Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-09
EIGHT MONTHS In PRISON
Lady Scott Sentenced to Do Time Behind
the Bars.
SHE BECOMES HYsTERlCAL IN COURT
Denouement OF the Sensational Case
Against the Mothcr-in-Lnw of
Earl Russell-Lnwyer Cree
atcs Scene.

LONDON, Jan. S.-Lady Selma Scott, the
motherin-law of Earl Russell, who through
counsel pleaded guilty yesterday in the
criminal court of crlminally libelling his
lordship in conjunction with John Cockerton,
an engineer, and Aylot, a valet was SEN
fenced this morning to eight months i'm
prisonment, without hard labor. Cockerton
and Aylot who also pleaded guilty yesterday.
received similar sentences today.
Lady Scott, accompanied by her daughter,
Countess Russell, entered the court room at
an early hour. They were both stylishly
dressed in black, and pending the opening
Of court walked up and down the corridor,
the daughter having an arm around her
mothers waist. Both women were painfully
nervous, and Lady Scott was heard to re-
mark: 81 do not dread going to prison, but
l feel the injustice of the way have been
treated"
Justice Hawkins entered the court room
shortly after IL o'clock. These present
were principally lawyers. There was only
one woman spectator
Sir Franklin Lockwood counsel for Earl
Russell, in a brief speech asked that all
ground for doubt as to his lordshlp's charac.
ter be removed and counsel for Lady Scott
addressing the court, in turn, said that her
ladyshp would undertake never to repubish
the libels and he appealed to the judge not
to deprive the daughter OF her mothers pro-
lection. Counsel then asked permission for
his client to make a statement and Justice
Hawkins nodded his consent
Thereupon Lady Scott read an address
saying that she accepted any punishment
the judge would give her for the sake of
honest suffering women, believing the men
In the dock, and the dead man Kast who died
of consumption in Hollowell where he was
confined as one OF the three defendants, had
told the truth. Continuing her ladyship
said she trusted that no one in the court
room, including the judge, would ever see
his daughter suffer as hers had suffered.
Her only fear was that her daughter would
be followed by detectives and that something
would happen to her. Lady Scott was very
nervous and trembling, but she read her
statement clearly
Justice Hawkins summed up in a lucid
manner. He reviewed the case at length
and, as he proceeded, Lady Scott, who wss
visibly growing more nervous every mo-
ment. stepped back and forth in the dock
and when Justice Hawkins continuing said
I'm 1889 arrived that i'll day when Earl
Russell made the acquaintance of Lady Scott,
the origin of all this unhappness," her
ladyship interrupted with, Thank you my
lord"
Justice Hawkins did not notice the in
terruption, but Mr.. Fall, counsel OF the male
defendants who all along had squabbled
with the judge. made an objection, threw
down his brief and said; Il abandon the
case"
This incident caused a great sensation.
All present in the court room stood up, Lady
Scott became hysterical, threw back her
head pounded the railing of the DOCK and
shrieked THAT is abomnable." Coun-
sci tried to pacify Lady Scott, and when
quiet was eventually restored Justice Haw-
kins sentenced her to eight months imprlson-
ment without hard labor and afterward i'm