The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-11-26
LADY SCOTT LIBEL CASE.
A Scandalous Attempt Made to Tam
per With the Jury.


London, Nov 24.--Whcn the trial Of
Lady Selma Scott. mother of Countess
RUSSELL John Cockerton, an engineer;
Frederick Kast II groom, and William.
Aylott, Il valet charged by Earl Rus
sell with criminal libel, was resumed at
Old Bailey this morning, Justice Haw-
kins announced that u scandalous at
tempt had been made to tamper with
the jury by means of an anonymous let
ter to the foreman. The justice added
that he hoped to discover the writer, who,
if fonud, would have cause to regret
the action.
Earl Russell was the first witness to-
day, and he emphaticnlly denied the al
legation Of misconduct.
The court today was crowded TO suf--
location. The earl described from his
diary and log book the incidents of the
voyage of his yacht, Royal, on board
of which most of the offenses are al
legged to have occurred, his evidence
tending to show that it was impossible
dates mentioned. After Earl Russell
had been on the witness stand for u
couple of hours, Marshall Hall, coun-
sci for the male defendants applied for
permission to alter the dates in the plea
of justification his clients had made.
The offenses charged by the defendants
against Earl Russell are said to have
been committed as early as the sum
mer of 1887, during which time his lorA-
ship made several cruises on the Royal
small steam yacht.
Kast was employed on the yacht, as
cabin boy but is said to have been dis
missed because his performance of his
duties was not to the satisfaction of the
earl.
Cockerton, who was at the same time
employed as second engineer on the Roy
al, and Aylott succeeded Kast as cabin
boy, and was afterwards for some time
in the employ of Earl Russell at the
Teddington.
Mr.. Halls application for permission
TO alter the dates in the plea of justifica-
ton brought on Il sharp alteration with
the bench, during which Justice Haw-
kins holly charged Mr.. Hall with being
disrespectful to him and with insulting
Sir Frank Lockwood, q. g., counsel for
the earl.
Mr.. Hall thereupon apologized and the
incident was closed by the Justice stat
ing that any alteration of the dates III
the plea of Mr. Halls clients would haHa
to be supported by the strongest afr
davits.
Later. Earl Russell recounted the inci--
dents of his marriage and meeting with
Mr.. Roberts, master Of Bath college,
with whom he was charged with inn
crafty in his wife's suit for n separation
in 1891, Sir Frank Lockwood explaining
that Mr. Roberts had since obtained dam
ages to the amount of 5000 pounds ster-
ling against Countess Russell for libel
in the charges made.
Sir Frank Lockwood also said that Mr.
Roberts was not concerned in the pres
ent suit which was necessitated by the
terms of the alleged libelous words;
1--WE are prepared to prove that every
thing that has been dragged out Of Lady
Russell in regard to her husbands i'm
morality, is true" which appear in the
document circulated by Lady Scott and
signed by the three male defendants.
The case was adjourned until tomor--
row.
Earl Russell introduced the name OF
Santa Yana, professor of moral philoso,-
phy at Harvard, who, witness testified,
was with him during part of 1889 and
1890 and 1891, at Winchester, and II
was this statement apparently which
Influenced defandtns' counsel to ask that
the date be altered.
Professor Santa Yana, it appears, was
also the guest of Earl Russell on his
yacht in June, 1888, while ascending the
River Rhine from the Mediterranean.