The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-08
EARL RUSSELL WINS.
Lady Scott and Other Defendants in
the Salacious Case Plead GUILTY.

London, Jan. THE spectators who
crowded the old Bailey court room this
morning. to watch the proceedings of the
action for criminal libel brought by
Lord Russell against Lady Scott, his
mother-in-law; John Cockerton and Will
lam Aylott were treated to a genuine sur
prise.
Immediately after the court was called
to order, Solicitor Walton arose, and an
nounced to the court that under the adj
vice of counsel, the defendants withdrew
their plea of Justification in uttering the
libels complained of by Earl Russell and
pleaded guilty as charged.
The announcement created a profound
sensation.
AS soon as Mr. Walton had ceased
speaking, the judge announced that a re-
cess would be taken, and the prisoners
We're removed from the room and the
court cleared.
When the sitting was resumed, the
prisoners We're brought in. Lady Scott
was in a highly eXcitable condition hut
Aylott and Cockerton maintained an air
of unconcern.
NJ. Walton addressed the court. say
ing that he had consulted with his client
Lady Scott, who had left herself en-
tirely in his hands. AS his lordship and
the judge. mad ruled that Kast VINO had
died III Holloway jail on Dec. II, was the
principal witness in the defense as well
as defendant he said the plea of justi-
fcat!on must be withdrawn
The jury then rendered formal verdict
OF guilty in the case of each defendant
s.nd the court announced that sentence
would be imposed upon them tomorrow
The case X Il SEQUEL to the difficulties
which have existed between Earl Russell
and his wife for 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 ac-
cusations against him of a most shocking
oh. ri ar n i'm no ,f
cruelty, but of crimes of most revolt
ing nature.
Countess Russell was not successful in
proving her charges. her suit suffering
complete breakdown. and she was con-
demned to pay the costs of the action,
amounting to over &. 600.
Earl Russell then secured a judicial
separation from his wife but about two
years ago the countess sued for a restor-
alton of conjugal rights, and was again
defeated.
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
had existed between Roberts and her
husband. The result of the suit was that
Roberts secured verdict for $4,000.
Lady Scott was arrested on October 10
last upon charge of criminal libel
brought by Earl Russell and next day
John Cockerton, an engineer, and Frede-
rick 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 re-
turned and surrendered himself for trial
The acts of which the defendants had al
legged against Earl Russell were said to
have been committed on board the earl's
yacht uDon which Cockerton, kaSt and
Aylott We're employed.
On November 80, Kast was taken i'll
with pneumonia and died in Holloway
iai on December II, 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
4.