The Indianapolis journal., 1896-11-25
TRIAL OF LADY SCOTT
LIBEL CASE BASED ON CHARGES
AGAINST EARL RUSSELL.
Politics Discussed mt the
Golden Club Meetirg-Bayard to
Eat Turkey with Victoria.

LONDON, Nov. A.-When the trial OF
Lady Selma Scott, mother of Countess
Russell, John Cockerton. an engineer.
Frederick Kast a groom. and William
Aylott a valet charged by Earl Russell
with criminal libel, was resumed at the Old
Bailey this morning. Justice Hawkins an
ncunced that a seandaIous attempt had
been made to tamper with the jury by
means of an anonymous letter to the fore
man. The justice added that he hoped to
discover the writer. who. If found. would
have cause to regret-th action. The court
room was crowded TO suffocation.
Earl Russell was the first witness to-day.
and he emphaticaly denied the allegations
of misconduct. He described from his
diary and note book the incidents of the
voyage of his yacht Royal, on board Of
which most OF the offenses are alleged to
have occurred, his evidence tending to
show that it was impossible for them to
have taken place on the dates mentioned.
After Earl Russell had been on the wit
ness stand for a couple of hours Marshall
Hall, counsel for the male defendants, ap-
piled for permission to alter the dates In
the plea of justification his clients had
made. The offenses charged by the de-
PENDANTS against Earl Russell are said to
have been committed as early as the m
mer of 1887, during which time his lordship
made several cruises in the Royal a small
steam yacht. Kast was employed on the
yacht as cabin boy, but is said to have been
dismissed because the performance of his
duties were not to the satisfaction OF the
earl Cockerton was at the same time en-
ployed second engineer of the Royal,
and William Aylotr succeeded Kast as
cabin boy, and was afterward for some
time in the employ of Earl Russell at
Teddington. MIR. Halls application for per-
mission 20 alter the dates in the plea OF
Justification brought on a sharp, aIterca-
ton with the bench, during which Justice
Hawkins notify charged Mr.. Hail with be-
ing disrespectful to him and with insult
ing Sir Frank Lockwood, q. c., counsel for
the earl. Mr.. Hall thereupon apologlzed
and the incident was closed by the justice
stating that any alteration OF the dates
would have TO be supported by the strong
est affidavitS.
Earl Russell introduced the name of San
tayana, professor of moral philosophy at
Harvard, who witness testified. was with
MIN during part OF the lsth ana 18TH ,' OF
statement apparently, which Influenced the
defendants counsel TO ask that the date be
altered from the 18th to the 10Th. Prof:
Santayana, ii appears, was also the guest
of Earl Russell on his yacht in June, 1888
while ascending the River Rome from the
Mediterranean.
his marriage and his meeting with Mr..
Roberts, master of Bath College, with
whom he was charged with immortality in
his wife's suit for a separation in 1891. Sir
Frank Lockwood explaining that Mr.. Rob-
erts had since obtained damages to the
amount of $4,000 against Countess Russell
for libel in the charges made. Sir Frank
Lockwood also said that Mr.. Roberts was
not concerned in the present suit, which
was necesstated by the terms of the al
legged libelous words: I'VE are prepared to
prove that everything that has been
dragged out of Lady Russell in regard to
her husbands immortality is true" which
appear in the document circulated by Lady
Scott and signed by the three male defend
ants. The case was adjourned until to-
morrow.