Evening star., 1897-01-08
MUST GO TO PRISON
Lady Scott Sentenced to Eight
Months Imprisonment.
She LIBELED her SON. NLAW
Complains Of the injustice of Her
Treatment.
EXCITING SCENE IN COURT

LONDON. January s.-Lady Selma Scott.
the mother-in-law of Earl Russell. who.
through counsel. pleaded guilty yesterday
in the central criminal court of criminally
libeling his lordship in conjunction with
John Cockerton. en- engineer. and William
Aylott. a valet, sentenced this morn
ing TO eight months Imprisonment without
hard labor. Cockerton and Aylott, who
also pleaded guilty yesterday. received sim
liar sentences today
Lady Scott accompanied by her daughter.
Countess Russell. entered the court room a I
an early hour They We're 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 ladies were painfully
nervous. and Lady Scott was heard 10 re-
mark: Il do not dread going to prison; but
i feel the injustice of the way l have been
treated
Justice Hawkins entered the court room
shortly after II O'Clock. Those present
ere principally lawyers. There was only
one woman spectator.
Sir Frank Lockwood counsel for Earl
Russell. In brief speech. asked that all
ground for doubts as to his lordships char
acter be removed. and counsel for Lady
Scott. addressing the court in turn. said
that her ladyship would undertake never to
republish the libels. and he appealed to the
Judge not to deprive the daughter of her
mothers protection. Counsel then asked
permission for his client to make a state
ment. and Justice Hawkins nodded his con-
sent.
Lady Scott's Statement
Thereupon Lady Scott read an address
saying that she accepted any punishment
ihe judge would give her for the sake of
hcEest suffering women. believing that the
men in the dock and the dead man Fred-
srick kasp. the groom, who died of con-
sumption in Holloway JAIL where he was
confined as one Of the three male defend
ants had told the truth.
Continuing. her la6yship said she trust
I'd that one in the court room including
the judge would ever her daughter
suffer. Her only fear was that her daugh-
ter would he followed by detectives and
that something would happen to her.
Lady scott was very nervous and trem-
bling. 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 was
Nisibly growing more nervous every mo-
ment. stepped back and forth in the dock.
and when Justice Hawkins, continuing.
said: In 1883 arrived that ill day when
Earl Russell made the acquaintance of
Lady Scott. the origin of all his unhappi
ness" her ladyship interrupted with:
Thank you. my lord
Justice Hawkins did not notice the in
terruption. but Mr.. Hall. counsel for the
male defendants. who all along had squab-
bled with the judge. made an objection.
threw down his brief and said
Il abandon the case.
Great Sensation.
The incident caused 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:
This is abominable''
Counsel tried TO pacify Lady Scott and
when quiet vas eventually restored, JUS
tce Hawkins sentenced her 10 eight
months Imprisonment without nard labor
and afterward imposed the same sentence
upon the two male defendants.
When Countess Russell heard the sem
tence pronounced she shrieked and her
mother. Lady Scott shouted: There is not
one word of truth in it,
Then addressing her daughter apparent
Iy- she cried: You said il was impossible
to get Justice"
TT ereupon Justice Hawkins exclaimed:
Il will not allow you TO thus address me-
Lady Scott
Cockerton and Aylott who are two com
mon looking men, stood stolidly in the
prisoners dock throughout the proceed
ings.
Earl Russell. who occupied a seat among
counsel beameG throughout. evidently de-
irving considerable satisfaction from the
result Of the trial
owing TO Ill health Lady Scott will be ac-
corCed in prison ;he privileges of a first
class misdemed1ant.
Contrary to first announcements Lady
scott was taken to Holloway Jail instead
OF 10 Wormwood Scrubs prison where she
Will occupy the cell in v hich the Duchess
OF sutherland formerly Mrs Blair and
row Lazy Albert Kaye RolliD was confined
lor SIX weeks for contempt of court in
hurnirg an important document wanted as
eNlderce in the contest which the present
dU Ike made OF the will of his father in Is.yo