The herald., 1897-01-09
LADY SELMA SENTENCED
Earl Russei's LibcIlants Will Do Penance
in Prison
The Offending Mother-in-Law Doesn't
Fear Imprisonment But Feels the
Injustice of Her Treatment.

LONDON, Jan. S.-Lady Selma Scott
mother-in-law of Earl Russell, who,
through her counsel, pleaded guilty yes
terday to criminally libeling his lord
ship in conjunction with John Cockerton
and William Aylott was sentenced to
eight months imprisonment without
hard labor. Cockerton and Aylott re-
ceived similar sentences.
Lady Scott was heard to remark: II
do not dread going to prison, but feel
the injustice Of the way 1 have been
treated"
Justice Hawkins entered the court
room shortly after II o'clock Those
present. were principally lawyers. There
was only one woman spectator.
Sir Francis Lockwood, counsel for
Earl Russell, in brief speech, asked
that ali ground for doubt as to his lord
ships character be removed, and cour-
sci for Lady Scott, addressing the court
in turn, said that her ladyship would un-
dertake never to republish the libels.
and he appealed to the judge not to de-
prive the daughter of her mothers pro-
lection. Counsel then asked permission
for his client to make statement and
Justice Hawkins nodded his consent.
Thereupon Lady Scott read an ad-
dress, saying that she accepted any pun
ishment THE judge would give her for the
sake of honest, suffering women, believ-
ing the men in the dock and the dead
man (Frederck KasD, the groom who
died of consumption in Holloway JAIL
where he was confined as one of three
main witnesses. had told the truth.
Continuing, her ladyshp said she
trusted that no one in the courtroom
includinge the judge, would ever see his
daughter suffer as hers had suffered
Her only fear was that her daughter
would be followed by detectives and that
something would happen to her. Lady
Scott was very nervous and trembling,
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 visibly growing more nervous
every moment, stepped back and forth
in the dock, and when Justice Hawkins.
continuing. said, "In 1889 arrived that
i'll day when Earl Russell made the ac-
quantance of Lady Scott. the origin of
all his unhappiness," her ladyship inter-
rupteG with, Thank you, my lord"
Justice Hawkins did not notice the
interruption, but Mr.. Hall, counsel for
the male defendants, who all along had
squabbled with the judge. made an OBJ
lection, threw down his brief and said:
Il abandon the case This incident
caused a great sensation. Those present
in the room stood up, Lady Scott became
hystarica, threw back her head, pound
ed the rail of the dock and shrieked:
THAT is abominable.'
Counsel tried to pacify Lady Scott and
when quiet was eventually restored
Justice Hawkins sentenced her to eight
months imprisonment without hard la
Dor and afterwards imposed the same
sentence upon the two male defendants.
When Countess Russell heard the SEN
tence pronounced she shrieked. and her
mother, Lady Scott, shouted: There is
not one word of truth in it,"
Then addressing her daughter ap-
parently, she cried: you said it was i'm
possible to get justice"
Thereupon Justice Hawkins eXclaim
ed: Il will not allow you to thus address
me-"
The court officials promptly removed
Lady Scott who will be taken to Worm
wood Scrubbs prison this afteHoon
Cockerton and Aylott, who are two
common looking men, stood stolid in the
prisoners dock throughout the proceed
ings.
Earl Russell, who occupied a seat
among counsel. beaffled throughout. ev-
identity deriving considerable satisfac-
ton from the result of the trial
Owing to ill-health, Lady Scott will be
accorded in prison the privileges of
first class misdemeanant.