The San Francisco call., 1896-11-24
LADY SCOTT IN
k CRIMINAL DOCK
Prosecution of Earl Rus
sells Mother-in-Law
for Libel.
Allegations That a Bold Attempt
Was Made to Collect
Blackmail.
An Outline of the Case Made by Sir
Francis Lockwood to
Crowded Court.


Lady Tina Scott, the mother of Countess
Russell, and the other defendants Cocker
ton, Kast and Aylott, upon the charge of
libeling Earl Russell, Lady Scott's son-in-
law, began in The Central Criminal Court,
Old Bailey, this morning. The courtroom
was crowded, most of the spectators being
persons well known in fashionable circles.
Sir Francis Lockwood, Q. c., for the
prosecution, stated that Kast and Aylott
were cabin boys on board Earl RusselPs
yacht in 1888 and that Cockerton was the
engineer of the vessel. Since that time,
he said, the Earl had never seen any of
them. Counsel then referred to the Earl S
unhappy marriage and the disgusting
charges which had been brought against
him by Countess Russell at the instance
of her mother, Lady Scott, upon the re-
ported statements of the other defendants,
Kast, Aylott and Cockerton.
Sir f. Lockwood called attention to the
action at law which Countess Russell
brought against her husband, Earl Rus
sell, more than a year ago, for the pur-
pose, as alleged, of obtaining restitution
of her conjugal rights. This litigation, he
said, had been melted by Lady Scott, and
though its ostensible object was the res
toration of Countess RusselPs marital
rights, the real object was to extort money
from the Earl.
At this point in the argument of the
| counsel for the prosecution Lady Scott be-
came greatly agitated and smote the front
of the dock violently with her hands.
Continuing his remarks counsel declared
that no woman could be so base as TO de-
cir har a 10 ohob hi tot tinn
with her husband If she believed that the
charges OF immortality and cruelty which
Countess Russell had brought against the
Earl and which had not been supported
by the evidence in the Countess original
suit for judicial separation were true.
Sir Francis Lockwood then read state
ments made by the prisoner, Kast, alleg-
ing the commission of an indecent act by
Lord Russell on board his yacht on the
night of June 10, 1888. Earl Russell, he
said, could prove that on the night in
question he had slept in Winchester and
did not go on board his yacht until June
20. Proof of Lady Scott's animus and
tendency toward blackmail, he said, was
shown in the fact that circulars contain
| ing the terrible charges against Earl Rus
| sell were sent to the masters of the schools
in which Lord Russell was educated.
| Counsel gave another instance OF the
falsity of the charges by showing that
when Earl Russell took measures to bring
Kast and Cockerton to justice they were
examined privately as to the time and
place of the alleged acts, and they were
obliged to withdraw their accusations. Sir
| Francis Lockwood concluded by saying
that the whole affair was horrible con-
spiracy.
At this point in the proceedings Lady
Scott was permitted to leave the dock
upon the understanding that she should
not be permitted to comm unicate with
any of the witnesses in the case.
| Sir Francis Lockwood, resuming his ar
gument, said that Lady Scott first came
into communication with Cockerton, Kast
and Aylott in November, 1895, when
blackmailing designs were arranged with
Countess Russell. Then, he said, Kast's
brother wrote to the Earl, saying that an
agent of Lady Scott was searching ior his
brother, who was in the army in India,
with a view of getting his assistance in
making charges against his lordship. Earl
Russell Immediately consulted his solic-
itors, who wired Kast, warning him thai
he was being made 4 catspaw in the con-
coction of filthy charges.
| 1t was eventually ascertained that Lady
Scott's agents bought Kast out of the
army in India and supplied him with
money. While in Bombay Kast wrote to
private in his old regiment, saying that
he was staying at the best hotel in Bom-
bay with rupees a day and everything
found except strong drinl.s. In fact, he
was 'doing the heavy" at 10 expense to
himself 1t would be proved. Sir Francis
Lockwood said, that Lady Scotts de-
| tective, Smith, had supplied Kast with
money.
Calling attention to the assertion of the
defendants that after Kast had left Earl
RusselPs yacht his Lordship had sent him
a postal-card, addressing him as "Dea1
Fred,' inviting him to join the Earl's
yacht as cabin boy, Sir Frank said:
81 shall call as the first witness Ear
Russell himself, who will show that the
dates involved in the accusations are i'm.
possible and the facts alleged impro ba BILE
Meanwhile ask your Worship to hold the
| defendants hand and foot until this case is
fully heard"
| The male defendants were nos allowed
out on bail, but Lady Scott was permitted
to go out on bail, with the understanding
that she was to have no communication
with any one connected with the case ex-
cept her counsel.
The greatest interest is being taken in
the case and crowds of people sought ad-
mission to the courtroom to-day in vain,
the court being packed to the extreme
| limit of its capacity.
|