Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-10
I Lady Selma Scott Will Not Be Treated as
Common Criminal.
HER LIGHT SENTENCE DISAPPR0vED OF
Howl of Protest is Raised Against the Le-
niency Of the Judge
ATR0Cl0US CRIME LIGHTLY PUNISHED
British Opinion DisregardS Question of the
Prisoners Sex.
ROClOUS CRIME LIGHTLY PUNISHED
IS ALLOWED HER OWN CLOTHES AND FOOD
Everything Possible to he Done to
Make the Womnn's Short
Term I'm JniI Pleasant
for Her.

for Her.
Copyright. 1897, by Press Publishing Company
LONDON, Jan. 9.--(New York World Cable
gram-Specal Telegram)-The light SEN
tence OF Lady Scott has called out general
shout of protests. Such unanimity OF ex-
preston by the public press probably never
followed the action OF an English judge be-
fore. All questions OF sex seem forgotten.
1t Is remarked that her crime is the most
atroclous on the calendar, worse than mur-
der In It's consequences. No man or woman
Is safe, 1t is declared, IL such frightful
and false imputation upon his or her good
name Is not adequately punished. The chief
offender in this case gets only nominal pun
ishment. Her two perjured dupes received
the only real punishment. The judges dis
elimination In this respect, to say nothing
Of his general leniency, Is harshly and prop
erly criticised.
The st. James Gazette-the recognized
organ of the social rank to which Lady Scott
belongs by birth-does not mince words
After long review of the horrible features
and consequences of her acknowledged guilt,
1t says: "The principal was admitted to bail
lent themselves, presumably for money, to
the conspiracy will eat prison skily and
sleep on prison mattresses for eight months.
Lady Scott will suffer nothing but the tenn
porary seclusion from the society she
adorns. She will have comfortable, warmed,
well-lighted apartment, palatable food, sup
ply of entertaining literature and in other
respects will be treated precisely in the
same way as the duchess OF Sutherland, who
was sent to Holloway for contempt OF court.
We are quite unable to understand the
ground OF these indulgences and distnc-
tions IL seems to us that this considera-
tion for the health of the prisoner is be-
coming something like an abuse. 1t looks
worse because, to be plain, it only seems
TO be exercised toward prisoners of the we'll
dressed classes. We do not see 1t applied
to criminals Of the common type, who yet
must often find that one of her majesty's
gaols Is less healthgivlng than Hampstead
Heath. The fact is any prisoner, except the
mere hardened brute without nerves or
feelings, is likely to suffer physically from
isolation, monotony and captivity. 1t Is part
OF his punishment that II should be so. We
recognize 1t without murmur each time we
send a man-of the addressed classes, OF
course-to twelve months hard labor"
WILL BE WELL TREATED.
1t Is described that on arrival at Hollo-
way Jail last night Lady Scott. as a first
class misdemeanant. was placed in a cell
situated in the "B" wing, occupied by the
duchess OF Sutherland when she underwent
term of Imprisonment for contempt of
court, and will be allowed to add to its
bar
under the supervision of Colonel Milman.
She will also furnish her own clothing, a
supply of which was sent to the prison
later in the day, and will provide her own
food, which may include alcoholic drinks
permitted by the prison surgeon, through
the medium of the confectloner who sup
piled Dr. jameson and his companions.
She will be obliged to rise at an un-
fashionable hour, but will not have to per-
form the menial tasks necessary to main
tain her cell in the apple pie" order di
Tected by the prison regulations. That will
be done for her by another prisoner Sc
lected for the purpose, and paid for her
services.
Her ladyship will also be allowed to pro-
vide herself with books and newspapers. in
the perusal of which she can while away
the weary hours, and to receive the consol-
ing visits of relatives once a week, or even
oftener II the visiting justices or the prison
commissioner can be induced to grant the
necessary permit.
The excitement under which Lady Scott
labored on her admission to the prison sub
sided later in the day and medical exami-
nation showed that although she bore
AZ. IL l.. n
been subjected to during her prolonged trial
and had not entirely recovered from the
effects OF her recent Illness, she was in a
fairly good physical condition. BY direction
OF the home secretary. however. a special re-
port will be made at an early date upon the
state OF her health.
MARLBoRouGHS IN ILL LUCK.
Society has been thrilled in the past few
days by the amazing series of mshaps to
members of the Marlborough family. In
the present delicate state OF health OF the
Duchess Lily. the doctors feared that the
shock OF the news OF the serious accident to
her husband might be attended with grave
consequences, but the duchess, although at
first prostrated soon pulled herself together
and went to Deepdene to nurse her hus-
band | may now state on the authority OF
one of the surgeons called In to see Lord
William Beresford that at the outset not
the remotest hope was entertained OF saving
his life. His injuries were such as would
have killed nlnety-ninc out OF 100 men, but
his immense pluck ana unique vitality have
enabled him to pull through them. and he
now Is fairly on the way to recovery.
Then on Friday. as stated In the papers,
the duke OF Marlborough had a dangerous
carriage accident when driving to meet to
the Quorn hounds No bone was broken,
because he fortunately was thrown into a
ditch soddened by rain. But for the fact OF
Its being wet morning the young duchess
would have accompanied him, as usual, In
a carriage to the meet. and In her case,
under the present circumstances. a spill of
the kind would certainly have been serious
affair. BALLARD SMITH.
supreme Council ia Aid the Czar.