New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-01
LABOUCHERE SUSPENDED.
HE ACCUSES LORD SALISBURY OF FALSE
HOOD.
THE GOVERNMENT CHARGED WITH AIDING To
DEFEAT JUSTICE IN THE NOTORIOUS
CLEVELAND-ST. SCANDAL

DEFEAT JUSTICE IN THE NOTORIOUS
CLEvELAND-sT. SCANDAL
London. Feb. 2s-Mr Labouchcre spoke TO MS
motion of inquiry into the Clcvelandst. scandal
which had been made part of the regular order
for to-day in the House of Commons. lie alleged
that the case presented an official attempt to de-
feat the course Of Justice. and therefore he hau
moved the reduction of the credits related 10 the
administration of Justice. lie detailed the 1acts
of the scandal and contendcd that the sentence
of nine months Imprisonment for week was l'sen
scandal, because of the inadcquacy OF thc pull
ishment 10 the offence committed Inc treasury
officials having full knowledge of the whole analr,
had refrained from prosecuting NewloNe anu
Week until Sir Stevenson Blackwood, Secretary to
the Postofce had insisted upon taxing acuon
against his own subordinates, the postal employees
involved Then, finding themselves compelled to
prosecute these two men, the Treasury officials
determined TO prevent the exposure from going
any further. and tried TO hush it all up.
When Hammond fed, said Mr.. Laboucherc, the
police proposed to secure his eXtradtion from Bel
rium. where they had him watched. Both the
Chief of Police and the Secretary 10 the Postofiice
urged the Government to obtain his cXtradition
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 extradition. The Marquis OF
Salisbury certainly knew that the treaty with
Pelgium covered the offence alleged against Ham
mond Why, then, could ne not ask for his eX-
tradition? Hammond discovered that he was
watched In Belgium, and, informed of his danger
there, hurried away and went 10 America; and
in all this as to information and otherwise he
was assisted through Mr.. Newton the solicitor
of Lord Arthur Somerset. The object of the Gov
ernment was obviously to hunt Hammond beyond
the range of extradition. that being regarded as
the best plan for preventing the making of rcvela-
tions affecting certain personages. Opposition
cheers) When Monroe chief of police, reported
70 the Treasury the evidence 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. He appeared
at the funeral of his grandmother the Dowager
Duchess of Beaufort. Lieutenant-General Sir
Dighton Probyn, prominent member of the
household of the Prince of Wales, informed Lord
Salisbury OF this Lord Salisbury stated that
warrant to take him into custody would he issued;
but he caused this decision to become known TO
Lord Arthur Somersets commanding official,
through whom this information was conveyed to
Somerset Thereupon Somerset fed. Lord Arthur
Somerset was not only allowed to resign his COM
mission and leave the army an honorcd officer.
but at this moment he is still magistrate for
two counties Uaughter) Moreover, he did not
hide himself. He went TO Pera openly and asked
for an official place at the Court of the Sultan.
Two men now in prison for their part in these
scandalous occurrences. But they poor and
obscure men their highly placed confederate is
enmoicsted. The Government took care that the
warrant for his apprehension should not be issued
till he was out of the country. Cheers and Min
sterial "Ohsi")
Mr. Labouchere said his charge plain
enough IT. was that the Marquis of Salisbury
end others crimnally conspired TO defeat the ends
of justice. Therefore he asked that the COM
rnittee inquire into his allegations. daughter and
cheers lie trusted that the Government, what
ever their defence, would not put up lawyer
with brief in his hand TO defend them by special
pleading and evasive chcanery
Mr. Labouchere then withdrew his motion.
Sir Richard Webster, the Attorncy-icneral. said
he believed the House would agree with him that
there was not shadow of foundation
for these disgraceful charges. 1t was absurd
20 ose that the Marquis of Salisbury or the
Treasury officials could have any Interest TO re-
tard the prosecution in this case. he pro-
cedure in fact, took the usual course: When the
evidence all in, it was first collated with a
view TO the against Lord Arthur Somerset.
upon it. and this opinion was that the evidence
was insufficient TO Justify prosecution SuDse,
duently additional evidence was Obtained ana
fhis rendered the issue of warrant advisable,
hut he had authority TO state that Sir Dighton
Probyn. after his interview with the Marquis of
Salisbury on this subject neither saw nor con, com
either directly or indirectly Neither
had had the Marquis of Salisbury any
knowledge of the movements Of Lord Arthur Som
erset to avoid the service OF the warrant The
story told by Mr.. LabOucherc, to the effect that
the Marquis Of Salisbury had informed Sir Disl-
ton Probyn that warrant was about 10 be issued,
MIR Laboucherc. interrupting here, offered to
write the name Of his informant on slip Of
paper and put the ship OF paper mo me land % oI
Sir Richard Webster, leaving 10 Sir lIchaId tlc
choice OF disclosing or not disclosing the name 10
Sir Richard Webster said Mr. Labouchere could
adopt what course he chose. lie himself lian
direct authority contradict the ALLEGATION That
the Marquis of Salisbury had spoken to any one
regarding the issue of the warrant. ,
Mr.. Labouchere said he could not accept Sir
Richard Webster's assurances nor did lie believe
the Marquis of Salisbury whose denlals were
obviously untrue.
The Chairman here intervened and requested
the gentleman TO withdraw the words calling INTO
question the vcracty OF the Premier
Mr. Labouchere declined 10 withdraw the words
and the Speaker named him Tor suspension an"
called upon the House 10 adjudgc upon the con
duct Of the member Upon division. the sus-
tension was carried by ~ to %.
Mr.. Labouchere. upon leaving the House. sad
he regretted the fact. but his conscience would
not allow him to say that he believed the de-
NAL of the Marquis OF Salisbury. Cheers from
the Parnel partyJ
Mr.. Morley here suggested that this subject he
dropped and the House proceeded TO other bus
ness.
w. II. Smith demanded that the House
should express an opinion on the motion, not
wjtl,standing the withdrawal. and should say that
The motion was improper and the charges false
The vote against Mr.. Laboucheres motion was
163 10 So
TP. O'Connor, continuing the debate said he
know the name that Mr. Labouchcrc had offered
to give 10 Sir Richard Webster; and it one
that carried conviction as TO the correctness
of the statements that had been made.
w. ii. Smith called upon Mr.: O'Connor to