New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-02
LONDON TOPICS.
SENSATIONS IN FIVE COURTS.

nnbc attention this week, il might be difficult 10
say. But will let politics stand over TIL next
post not because they are least important, but De-
cause they will keep better word only with re-
spect to the peculiar tactics Of the Government on
the outbreak of a war; Lord Beaconsfeld's refusal
to receive the delegation headed by the
Duke of Westminster. Lord Lawrence ana
Mr. w. Z. Forster, may he excusable enough
as piece of party strategy. But IL Is hot
generally known that he first agreed to receive IT,
and then drew back. / heard the fact from man
who was among the foremost concerned IN 1t. Ii
the Prime Minister did not promise in so many
words he led Lord Lawrence and his friends to be-
Iieye that he would give them hearing. Matters
had gone so far that there was discussion as to the
number who should compose the deputauon;
whether il should be limited to fifty, or extend 10
three or four hundred. This is not very Important,
perhaps but il marks once more the curious crook
edness of the ways that it delights Lord Beacons-
field to follow. What wonder that Mr. Carlyle
should have lately expressed doubt how long
John Bull would stand having miserable Jew
dance on his bellyp
But to pass from politics into the not much moro
serene atmosphere of the courts, five OF which have
been occupied this week with extremely sensational
hearings Mr. Edmund Yates was the hero OF one,
which need not detain us long. He appeared on
Monday before police magistrate IN answer to a
summons for threatening breach of the peace.
He had been putting one Edgar Ray in fear OF
bodily harm. Edgar Ray is the editor of an obscure
theatrical paper, which is trying to force It's way
into notoriety by series of hbels on various &C.
lebrities Mr.. Henry Labouchere was the subject OF
The latest, in the course of which occurred
certain references to Mr. Yates, coupled
with promise that he should shortly have
whole lampOon to himself. Mr.. Yates without
much reflection, stepped over to MIR. Rays office
which happens unlucky TO be just opposite his
own, and not finding Mr. Ray, LETT message to
the effect that he published any more lies about
him he would give him good licking with this
stlckr Mr.. Ray. with shrewd eye TO business and
the advantage of cheap advertising, exhibited ar
tices of the peace against the man whom he had
proposed to abuse in his paper. Long before the
summons came on to be heard, Mr.. Yates perceived
that he had done a foolish thing. Mr.. George
Lewis, the most distinguished OF English
solicitors. who appeared for HIM, expressed his
regret for the Needless threat he lad uttered,
and offered the court assurance that DO harm
should be done to Mr.. Ray. He pointed out further
that the article on Mr.. Labouchere had contained
brutal attack on his dead relations, and that
MIR. Yatess menace was really meant to save his
own ancestors from like calumny. The magistrate
expressed an opinion that Mr. Rays article was un-
dismiss the summons with the assent of the prose-
cutlOn But Mr. Lewis said they would accept no
fayors from Mr. Ray, so Mr.. Yates was put under
his own recOgniZanCeS in the nominal sum OF
500, with Mr. LabOuchere as surety in the stu
more nominal sum of so that the peace
should be kept. Ths not a very grave
matter, but Mr.. Yates is much Of parsonage
that The account OF it occupies column III the
papers.
Much more extended is the report of the trial OF
Mr. Bandmann for an assault on Mrs. Rousby, to
which the Court of Queens Bench has devoted two
DAYS. Both Mrs Rousby aud Mr.. Bandmann must
be well known in the theatr cal world of America;
their dispute also. may have been heard of. since it
came before police court some months since, and
is now tried over for the second time-in tthe pc
cuhar fashion OF English Justice. 1t would be rash
to say positively what the whole of the real facts
are. since the witnesses told widely differ
ent stories, and the jury and the judge
Were plainly of different opinions. But il is agreed
that n semitic grew out Of a conflict of opinion
between Mrs. Rousby and Mr.. Bandmann at a re-
hearsai that Air. Bandmann tried to carry OH man
uscript which Mrs Rousby claimed as hex property,
and that Mrs.. Rousby's ann was severely bruised
She and several witnesses say Mr.. Bandmann struck
hcravislcnt blow. He and his witnesses say that
If any iiuly was done her 1t III the course of
a struggle and unintcntional. lie set up further
defence Mrs. Rousby, says Mr.. Bandmann,
was acting month before at the Standard The
atre in Joan of Are" drunk, and fell off her
horse and then and there caused the injuries
10 her arm which she charged to Mr.
Bandmann. Few people will applaud that line
of defence The medical evidence disproved It COM
pletelv: two surgeons testifying that the bruises
ON Mrs Rousby's arm, which they examined the
doy of the Bandmann difficulty. were fresh, and
Noo, ,nt,fh oil ovid pp
that Mrs Rousby had been drinking on that occa-
sion was moreover very weak, and, altogether, it
seems that Mr.. Bandmann would have done better
10 apologize to Mrs. Rousby than to recrminate
Admitting that he did not strike her, not much can
he SAID for the temper which leads man who has
done a physical injury to woman to at
tempt a defence of his conduct by fastening
upon her a charge of conspiracy and of drunken
ness. The jury negatiyed this by finding that the
bruises were actually inflicted by Mr.. Bandmann
at the time alleged, though Internationally; on
which latter point they seem to have given him the
benefit of the doubt to which defendant is en-
titled where witnesses contradict each other. III
one nav Judge from the charge of Lord Chief-Jus-
tice Cockburn he would have been less lenient.
The audience on the other hand or portion of 1t,
sympathized with MIR. BandmaDn and cheered him
on his acquittal.
There is some grave comment in the newspapers
on the scandal Of occupying the Queens Bench
with TRIALS like this. But that, again, is not the
Lord Chief Justices view. He delights in nothing
more than q cause which attracts public attention,
and compels the papers-nothing loth-to report 1t
at length The effect of this must none the less be
to degrade the theatre. 1t must give the public
queer notion of what goes on behind the scenes:
and, for the most part, wrong one. IL does not
Improve the position Of Mrs. Rousby, certainly;
and il Mr.. Bandmann's can be improved by it, such
position must have been bad indeed 1t may enable