The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-08
LADY SCOTT WEPT
AND CONFESSED
A Sensation Terminates the
Earl Russell Libel
Case.
Jury Finds Defendants Guilty
and They Will Be Sen
fenced To-Day.
A Nasty English Case Which At
tracted the Attention of the
Entire Nobility.

LONDON, Eng, Jan. THE libel suit
brought by Earl Russell against his
mother in-law, Lady Scott, and two male
defendants, John Cockerton, an engineer,
and William AyIott, a valet, came to
most sensational ending to-day when the
defendants pleaded guilty. The case has
been exceedingly nasty in character, but
involved people OF such high rank that it
has attracted wide attention, and the
court has been crowded at every session
with those eager to hear the testimony
against the Earl.
AS the case progressed, however, 1t be-
came evident that the defense was very
weak one. The defendants did rot deny
making the assertions complained Of but
claimed that the statements concerning
the Earps misconduct were true. The evil
dence they introduced, however, failed to
sustain the charges.
Yesterday the court was crowded, as it
was known that counsel for the defense
was to sum up. The counsel contended
that Lady Scott's whole object was simply
to vindicate her daughter and defend the
latter from her husband s attacks.
The counsel for Lady Scott. continuing.
said the defendant still believed the state
ments made by the male defendants were
true, and he secuted the idea that nara
tives were invented, pointing out the
progressive step of Earl Kusselrs career
at Oxford, the incidents of 1887, claiming
they strongly tended TO confirm the stories
of indecencY.
During the latter portion or the sum-
ming up of the counsel for the defense
Lady Scott burst into tears and counsel at
the close of his remarks was applauded,
after which the case was adjourned Tor the
day.
This morning the courtroom was, if pos
sible, more crowded than yesterday, and
the spectators were rewarded with the sem
sation tina. they had been expecting since
the first days of the trial. When the court
had been opened for business and the pris-
oners had been brought III Solicitor Wal
ton arose and announced that under the
advice of counsel the defendants withdrew
the plea of justification in uttering libels
com planned of by Earl Russell and pleaded
guilty as charged. The announcement
created profound sensation.
Lady Scott was in highly excited,
almost hysterical condition, and seemed a
times as if she were about to faint. The
other defendants, Aylott and Cockerton,
maintained an air OF nnconcern.
Under the circumstances there was no
need for further trial. The jury rendered
formal verdict of guilty, and the
Court announced that sentences would
be imposed tomorrow. What the sem
fences will be is a matter of much
discussion and surmise. 1t is generally
believed that Lady Scott's action was
based on desire to take her daughters
part, and that she was really deceived by
the male defendants. If the court takes
this view her sentence will probably be
light one. The punishment of the two
men will doubtless be more severe.
The present case grew out of an equally
sensational and even more disgusting case
brought in 1891, when Countess Russell,
daughter of Lady Scott. sued for divorce
from Earl Russell, making accusations
against her husband of a most revolving
character. The case was bitterly con-
tested, and attracted great attention. 1t
ended in the failure of the Countess to
prove her charges and denial of the di-
vorce asked. Subsequently the Earl APP
piled for divorce and was granted it.
At the trial Lady Scot; and the two other
defendants in the present case made the
most damaging kind of statements con-
corning the conduct of the Earl, and it
was these statements that led to the pres
emit libel suit