Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-01


allow an investigation. Labouchere was
suspended because of his radical language.
LONDON, February 2s.-Mr. Labouchere
spoke on his motion of inquiry into the
Cleveland street scandal which had been
made part OF the regular order for to-day in
the House of Commons. He alleged that
the case presented an official attempt to de-
feat the course of justice, and, therefore, he
had moved the reduction of the credits re-
lated to the administration of justice.
He detailed the facts of the scandal, and
contended that the sentence of nine months
Imprisonment for Week was itself scandal
because of the inadequacy of the punish
ment to the offense committed. The Treas
ury officials, having full knowledge of the
whole affair, haG refrained from prosecuting
Newlove and Week until Sir Stevenson
Blackwood, Secretary to the Postofice, mad
insisted upon taking action against his own
subordinates the postal employees involved.
TO PREVENT THE EXPOSURE.
Then, finding themselves compelled to
prosecute these two men, the Treasury Off
cials determined to prevent the exposure
from going any further, and tried to hush it
all up. When Hammond fled the police
proposed to secure his exlraditlon from Bel
gium, where they had him watched.
Both the Chief of Police and the Secre-
tary to the Postofice urged the Govern
ment to obtain his extradition. There
was no legal difficulty in the
way. The extradition could have
been readily obtained, but the Marquis of
Salisbury, through Treasury official, wrote
declaring that he could not ask for the ex-
tradition. The Marquis of Salisbury GER
tainly knew that the treaty with Bel
girm covered the offense alleged against
Hammond. Why, then, could he not ask
for his extradition? Hammond discovered
that he was watched in Belgium, and, in
formed of his danger there, hurried away
and went TO America; and in all this, as to
information and otherwise, he was assisted
through Mr.. Newton, the solicitor of Lord
Arthur Somerset.
THE TORY OBJECT.
The object of the Government was OBJ
viously to hunt Hammond beyond the range
OF extradition, that being regarded as the
best plan for preventing the making of
revelations afecting certain personages. Top
position cheers. When Monroe, chief of
police, reported 10 the Treasury the evil
dence in the hands of the police involving
Lord Arthur Somerset and others, the
Treasury ordered the police to desist from
watching the case, and Somerset obtained at
the Horse Guards four months leave of
absence to enable him to quit the country.
But he did not quit the country. Lord
Salisbury stated that a warrant to take him
into custody would be issued; but he caused
this decision to become known to Lord
Arthur Somerset's commanding officer,
through whom this information was con-
veyed to Somerset. Thereupon Somerset
fed.
Lord Arthur Somerset was not only al
lowed to resign his commission and leave
the army as an honorable officer, but at this
moment he is still Magistrate for two
counties. Laughter. Moreover, he did
not hide himself He went to Para openly,
and asked for an official place at the court
of the Sultan.
FATE OF THE POOR MEN.
Two men are now in prison tor their part
In these scandalous occurrences. But they
are poor and obscure men; their highly
placed confederate is unmolested. The
Government took care that the warrant for
his apprehension should not be issued till
be was out OF the country. [Cheers1
MIR. Labouchere said his charge was plain |
enough. 1t was that the Marquis of Sails |
bury and others criminally conspired to de- |
ieat the ends of justice. Therefore he asked |
that the committee inquire into his allepa- |
tions. Laughter and cheers. He trusted |
that the Government, whatever their de- |
Tense, would not put up a lawyer with a |
brief in his hand to defend them by special |
pleading and evasive chicanery.
Sir Richard Webster, the Attorney Gen.
eral, said he believed the House would |
agree with him that there was not a shadow |
of foundation for these disgraceiul charges |
1t was absurd to suppose that the MARQUIS |
of Salisbury or the Treasury officials could |
have any interest to retard the prosecution |
in this case. The procedure, in fact, took |
the usuel course.
NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE.
When the evidence was all in, 1t was first |
collated with view to the case against Lord |
Arthur Somerset The opinion of the Lord |
Chancellor was then taken upon it, and |
this opinion was that the evidence was in |
sufficient to justify prosecution. Subse- |
quently, additional evidence was obtained, |
and this rendered the issue OF a warrant ad- |
Sir Dightou Probyn, after his interview |
with the Marquis of Salisbury on this sub. |
lect, neither saw nor communicated with |
Lord Arthur Somerset, either directly or in |
Directly.
Neither had the Marquis of Salisbury ary
knowledge OF the movements of Lord Arthur |
Somerset to avoid the service of the warrant,
The story told by Mr.. Labouchere to the effect
that the Marquis of Salisbury had informed
Sir Dighton Probyn that a warrant was
about to be issued was mere gossip.
Mr.: La0ouchere. lnterrupting, here offered
to write the name Of his informant on a slim
OF paper and put the slip of paper into the
hand of Sir Richard Webster. leaving tn
Richard the choice of disclosing or NOT the
name to the House.
A DIRECT CONTRADICTION.
Sir Richard Webster said Mr.. Labou.
chere could adopt what course he chose. He
himself naa direct authority contradicting
the allegations that the Marquis of Sails
bury had spoken to anyone regarding the
issue Of the warrant.
MIR. Labouchere said he could not accen.
Sir Richard Webster's assurances, nor did
ne believe the Marquis of Salisbury. whose
lenials were obviously untrue. The Chair
nan here intervened, and requested the
gentleman to withdraw the words calling
nto question the verscity of the Premier.
Mr.. La5ouchere declined to withdraw the
FordS and the Speaker named him or sus-
,ension, and called upon the House to ad-
udge upon the conduct OF the member.
] pom division the suspension was carried by
.77 to g. Mr.. Labouchere, in leaving the
House, said be regretted the fact, but his
conscience would no: allow him to say that
le believed the denial of the Marquis of
Salisburv TEheere -frnm the parnalI
oarty.l
WANTED IT DROPPED.
Mr.. Morely here suggested that this sub
hn drn-.ol n.