River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-03
A Prototype.

A Prototype.
History repeats itself upon almost every
| provocation. Even Mrs. jerks, the pert
witness before the Potter COMMITTEES, had her
prototype in politics. There was case of
crookedness in England in 1909 in which a
Mrs. Clarke figured prominently, and made
an Investigation in the British house of COM
LIONS as good as comedy. The house was
inquiring into very serious public wrong,
which attracted the attention of all Europe,
and for time cast into the shade every other
public consideration. 1t involved the char
acter of the Duke of York, commander in
chief of bhe army. The charges against the
duke were in brief that, ayailing himself Of
his high Office, he had knowingly
permitted this Mrs. Clarke to traffic
IN commissions in the army,
and did himself participate in the emolu-
ments which were derived from this scandal
GUS, corrupt and illegal traffic. Mrs. Clarke
came into a notAEiety which she appeared to
enjoy, and her spirits overfiowed accordingly.
She had been ''under the projections" as
they termed it, of the duke, and she presided
at the head of one of his establishments in
Gloucester place-a splendid house, cara
van of carriages and a retinue of servants.
Col. Wardle, who moved the inquiry in the
house of commons, submitted a specific list
of charges supported by names and facts
from which it was clearly evident that Mrs
Clarke possessed the power of making
military promotions, and that the
commander in-chief was sharer
in the pecuniary benefits accru.
ing from this traffic in places. 1t was
shown also that exchanges as well as promo
tons were at the disposal of Mrs. Clarke,
ard that her influence extended throughout
all the departments of the army and the
ramifications of public life. The investiga-
ton lasted three weeks, and whenever the
routine became dry and Misunderstanding Mrs.
Clarke was called to the bar again, and
again to testify, and by the readiness and
pertness of her answers. relieved the mono
tony of the proceedings. The histories of
the time mention that this new and splendid
theatre for the display of her person and
talents seemed to afford her great salts
faction, and that she sometimes
carried her nonchalance, gayety and wit to
the borders of indecorum. A sample of her
testimony will call to mind Mrs. jerks pert
ness and eyasions. Being asked if she had
not written an anonymous letter to the
Prince of Wales, she said ''Yes." "Did you
sign any name to this anonymous letter."
Mrs. Clarke made no reply, but looking
archly at the chairman, burst into fit of
laughter, in which she was joined by the
whole house. Asked if she had given the
same account of the negotiations of an ex-
change between certain colonies to Mr. War
die which she now gave to the House of
Commons, she said "No." (Which, then
was the true account?'' "Both.'
xxT. ID fhrxy
differ?'' 'They did not differ at all; / did
not enter into the same detail with Col
Wardle." In order to weaken her evidence
by bringing her motives and general char
acter into discredit, she was asked if she
had not said that if the duke of York did
not come to her terms she would expose
him. "No; promised to publish his letters
and pay my creditors with the profits of the
publication Asked if she had not sworn
that she was married woman when she was
examined before the court-martial. "No,
thought it would be improper to say that
was O married woman, when it was known
that had been living with the duke of
York. Had she not sworn that she
was widow? To this she re-
piled that the duke insisted she should plead
her marriage to avoid her debts contracted
at Gloucester place, or else she might go to
prison, and when she applied to him for
few hundred pounds he returned for answer
that if she dared to speak against him he
would put her in the pillory. The next
question was: sWho brought this message
respecting the pillory?" "a very particular
friend of the Duke of York's-one Taylor, a
shoemaker in Bond street." "By whom
was the request sent for hundred
pounds?'' ''By my own pen.
s.How was the letter sent?" "By
the Ambassador of Morocco" "Whom
do you call by that manner" "The shoe
maker.'' Here the witness was admonished
of the impunity of giving her evidence IN 50
fippant and unbecoming manner, and
threatened with severe censure if she did not
treat the House with due respect.
Mr.. Sheridan sprung new mine of dis
cogery by asking Mrs. Clarke if she ever car
ried on negotiations respecting promotions
outside of the military departmental the
church for instance? "Yes, several,
among them DIR. O'Meara, an Irish divine,
applied to me to be made bishop, and the
duke of York, at my request, procured MIN
an appointment of preaching before royalty
at Weymouth but the duke told me that the
king did not like the capital 90 IN the doc
tors name, and the negotiation failed.
This was more than the house could stand.
Iney ulu not pel4eFe II, Dop :" AoSleA lAoiAA IAs
duke of York. subsequently produced, proved
that his hlghness had actually correspondent
with his mistress on this sacred subject. The
result of the investigation was resolution
praying the king to remove the duke OF
York from the office of commander-in-chlef.
A whitewashing motion was then carried,
the sentiment of the nation was such that
the duke rendered his resignation as COM
mander-in-chief of the army and the KING
accepted it.
The Potter committee investigation is not
parallel case exactly, but it has developed
a witness who, for fippancy of tongue, is
pretty close counterpart of Mrs. Clarke of
the duke Of York's household at Gloucester
place.