The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-07
LADY SCOTT GUILTY.
She So Pleads by Advice Of
Her Counsel--To Be SEN
fenced Tomorrow.
By Cable TO the United Press.

LONDON, Jan. Z. 1Ss7.-The spectators
who crowded the Old Bailey Court room
this morning to watch the proceedings of
the action for criminal libel brought by
Earl Russell against Lady Scott, his
mother-dn-law; John cockerton and Will
lam Ayaott, were treated to e genuine sur
prise. Immediately after the court was
called to order Solicitor Walton arose and
ANNOUNCED to the Court that under the
advice of counsel the defendants with
drew their plea of justification in utter
ing the libels complained by Earl Rus
sell and pleaded guilty as charged. The
announcement created profound ssnsa-
ton.
When Mr.. Walton had ceased speaking
the Judge announced that a recess would
be taken. and the prisoners were removed
from the room and the court cleared.
When the sitting WAS resumed the pris-
oners were brought in. Lady Scott was
in highly excited condition, but Aylott
and Cockerton maintained an air of un-
concern. Mr.. Walton addressed the
court saying that he had consulted with
his client. Lady Scott, who had lsft her
self entirely in his hands. As his lord
ship, the Judge, had ruled that Kast,
who died N Holloway Jail on December
II was the principal witness in the case
of the defense as well as a defendant he
said. the plea of justification must be
Withdrawn. The jury then rendered a
formal verdict of guilty IN the case of
each of the defendants and The court
announced that sentences would be i'm
POSED upon them tomorrow
The case is a sequel to the difficulties
which have existed between Earl Russell
and his wife for a number of years in
1891 Countess Russell. formerly Miss Mabel
Scott, daughter of Lady Scott, brought
suit against her husband for divorce and
in her complaint made accusations against
him of a most shocking character, accns-
ing him not only of cruelty but of crimes
of a most revolving nature. Countess
Russell was not successful in proving her
charges. her suit suffering a complete
breakdown and she was condemned to pay
the costs of the action, amounting to over
5000
aration from his wife, but about two years
ago the Countess sued for a restoration
OF conJugal rights and was again defeated
This suit was followed by an action
brought by Mr.. H. A. Roberts, master of
Bath College, and one of Earl Russelrs
Oxford friends, against Countess Russell,
claiming damages for libel in having tes-
titled in the divorce action that certain
immoral relations had existed between
Roberts and her husband. The result of
the suit was that Roberts secured YER
dict for $4,000. Lady Scott was arrested
on October 10 last upon a charge of
criminal libel brought by Earl Russell,
and next day John Cockerton, an engi-
neer, and Frederick Kast, a groom, were
arrested in connection with the case.
William Aylott was also wanted, but he
fled to Algiers to escape arrest. Later.
however, he returned and surrendered
himself for trial. The acts of which the
defendants had alleged against Earl
Russell, were said to have been COM
mitted on board the Earrs yacht, upon
which Cockerton. Kast and Aylott were
employed.
On November 30 Kast was taken i'll
with pneumonia and died in Holloway
jail on December IL, Lady Scott having
in the meantime been i'll also. The trial
of the case was adjourned when Kast
was taken i'll and resumed on January 4.