Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-20
PARLIAMENT's BLACK SHEEP,
Capt. Verney Returns, but Mr.. De Cobair
Remains In Hiding.

Special Cable Dispatch to the New York Herald
LONDON, April 1917 our parliamentary
black sheep one. Capt. Verney. returned today
and was promptly taken off to the police court
BY returning he puts himself in a some what
better position. But he is heir to a large
property and could not afford to become a
perpetual exile from his country. Better far
to take the consequences of his offense against
the laws if he is guilty. Fortunately for him
the procuress with whom he is alleged to have
been associated in the traffic with young girls
has disappeared, but one of the girls is here to
give her evidence and offered very damaging
testimony today. She had no hesitation in
identifying Verney as the man who attempted
the commission of the crime under the name OF
Wilson. Her character has never been i'm
pugned and If her evidence remains mistaken
it must go hard with Verney, NJ. p.
AS for the other fugitive De Cobain. re-
peat that he will never dare to show his face in
this country again. About his guilt there can be
no doubt. and there is a very strong feeling
existing on the conservative side of the house
of commons that active steps should be taken
to clear the party of all suspicion of an
endeavor to shield him from Justice. In q
word, we are all, liberal or conservative,
anxious to have a formal vote of expulsion
passed against this scoundrel.
A member can be expelled for any criminal
oHeuse VI winch ne Is IOunu bulitE upon PROOF
of his conviction being laid before the house,
but member who has fled from justice can
also be expelled without trial. De Cobain was
invited to resign his seat some time ago. when
his misdeed first became a matter of common
report. which he was unable to disprove. He
refused, and now we must wipe out the stigma
which his remaining member will infiict upon
us. All the steps will be taken toward this end
tomorrow evening and it is hoped Mr.. Smith
will act with decision and promptness.
The Hurlbut trial naturally excites much at
tention and opinions are greatly divided upon
1t. find scarcely anybody who believes the
womans story; her impure life, her indecent
entries in her own diary, her numerous lies and
receptions depriving her of all claim to Gre
dence. The general belief is that she has made
living by this sort of business for years past.
On the other hand. Hurlbuts narrative of the
ubiquitous and invisible private secretary, who
was his alter ego. Is regarded with equal doubt
and suspicion, no person having been produced
who ever saw Wilfrid Murray although he is
alleged to have been frequently i'll Hurlbut' 8
house. Mrs. Hurlbut might at least have testi-
fed to his existence sworn that the incrimi-
mating letters were not in her husbands writing,
but she was not called.
The private secretary who went everywhere
with Hurlbut. who wrote almost the same
handwriting as his employer and who has
now vanished from the earth, Is more mysteri-
Gus than any case Of doubling yet heard of in
romance or history. Hurlbut stood the cross
examination without hinching and never varied
in his statements. 1t is thought unlikely that
the woman Will gain a verdict, and / must re-
port that public feeling seems to incline
strongly toward Hurlbut, with reservations as
to the Wilfrid Murray episode.
A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.