The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-19
Trial i'm the House of Lords Conducted
with Much Ceremony and Gen.
tury-OId Forms.
PEERESSES OUT IN FORCE
AND THE CHAMBER FILLED WITH
AN ARRAY OF TITLED PERSONS.
Room in Holloway Jail, Formerly Oc-
cupied by william T. Stead, Pre-
pared for the Bigamous Earl.

LONDON, July 1s-Earl Russell ar
raigned at the bar of the House of Lords
to-day for trial on the charge of bigamy,
pleaded guilty after arguments against
the jurisdiction of the peers court. The
trial was carried on with all the quaint
middle-age ceremonies. The arguments
lasted one hour. Both the earl and Count
ess Russell Mrs Somerville) through their
counsel pleaded they did not know they
| were doing wrong but had acted on the
best legal advice obtainable in Nevada.
| The peers reached their decision after con-
| sidering the twenty minutes. Ear
| Russell was sentenced TO three months
| Imprisonment as a first-cass misdemean-
| ant.
| The secene in the royal gallery, tempo
rarily converted into a court of justice
when the lord high chancellor, Lord Halls
| bury who had been appointed lord high
! steward for the occasion. took his seat upon
| the dais, and the quaint ceremonial began,
| was most picturesque. The hall was
magnificent blaze of color, produced by the
robes of the peers the academic robes of
| the judges and the brilliant uniforms of
high state officers. Although the House of
Lords not represented in its full
strength, about two hundred OF Earl Rus
sells peers attended his trial and made an
imposing array they filed into the hall,
two by two from behind the throne Lord
Salisbury the premier, brought up the rear
of the procession and was almost un-
noticed as he took his seat near Lord Halls
bury.
| Immediately beneath the dais sat the ten
| judges in their gorgeous robes. surrounded
| by phalanx of less luminaries On either
side of the judges were ranged five benches
| filled with peers, whose rank was distin-
guished by the varying number of rows
of ermine and gold lace on their scarlet
| martles.
| PEERESSES WERE THERE.
| The benches reserved for peeresses were
amply filed, while the space lloted TO dis
tinguished strangers was crowded, the
| diplomates and their families, including
the United States ambassador Joseph II.
Choate. and the secretary of the United
| States embassy. Henry White, being pres
| ent.
Mollie Cooke, otherwise Mrs. SomerviIle,
Earl Russell's present wife, entered the
hall by ticket and sat facing the benches
occupied by members of the House of Com
| mons. She was accompanied by a young
| woman. Mollie Cooke appeared no more
| concerned than the other witnesses of the
/ interesting scene. among the witnesses
who entered the ball was Judge Curler, of
| Nevada, who took seat beside the clergy
man who married Earl Russell TO Mabel
| Scott his first wife.
| The court was formally opened by
series OF quaint ceremonies and the ex-
change OF stately phrases prescribed in the
ancient legal procedure. Beside Lord Sails
bury in his earls rebes and wig stood
| Gen. Sir Michael Biddulph, gentleman
usher of the Black Roo. and William
Henry Weldon. Esq. the Norroy king-of-
in, ttf,air
"0ur sovereign Lord and King" shouted
! the Norroy king-of-arms, charges and
| commands all manner OF persons TO keep
| silence on pain of Imprisonment"
] Another official on bended knee. handed
| the commission to the lord high chancellor
who. while handing it back to another
kneeing clerk. said: Let all be uncovered
| while the commission is read"
After the necessary formalties. Earl
| Russell was conducted TO the bar. He
| calmly surveyed his judges and his peers.
| Then clerk of Parliament cried loudly:
| John Francis Stanley, Earl Russell come
| forth and surrender to bail or forfeit
recogniZances.'
THE INDICTMENT READ.
Black Rod, bedecked with medals and in
uniform, approached the bar, which was
| raised as ,he earl drew near, and surrend-
cred Earl Russell. Upon reaching his ap
pointed seat. Earl Russell stood leaning
against the table and then made obesiance
three times 10 the lord high steward. He
remained with bowed head until the latter
addressed the accused. Then the indict
| ment was read by the clerk. who concluded
with these words: How say you, my lord.
guilty of felony or not guilty?"
Before Earl Russell could answer, his
| counsel objected 10 the indictment on the
| ground that the alleged offense was COM
| mitted outside of the domnions of his
Majesty. King Edward. During the course
/ of the technical arguments by the earls
| counsel the prosecution summoned Judge
! Curler within the bar to confer on certain
points raised in counsels arguments
| After the reply of the prosecution the ar
! gument OF counsel for the defense. Earl
/ Russell. in a voice scarcely audible, pleaded
House in mitigation, pleading that the
accused had acted upon the. best legal ad-
vice obtainable in Nevada, that the offense
vas merely technical and that no harm
had been done. Lord Russell then addressed
the House in the same strain, saying the
decree obtained in the United States gave
| special sanction 10 the new marriage Earl
| Russell said he proposed 10 remarry Mollie
Cooke as early as possible Concluding he
said he placed himself In their lordships,
with no intention OF willingly defying the
! law.
dict When they had teassembled the lord
high steward called for the prisoner. The
whole House rose TO its feet when the lord
| high steward proceeded 10 deliver the
| Judgment After intimating his opinion.
/ relative TO the defendants plea that the
court had no jurisdiction in the matter.
/ that King Edward had right 10 legislate
\ for his subjects all over the world, Lord
4 Halsbury commented on the historic name
/ OF Russell. While the crime could not be
passed over, said the lord high steward. at
the same time there were several mitigat-
/ ing circumstances. Lord Russell had passed
/ through long periods OF trouble. had ex-
i perienced some provocation and suffered
much torture In consideration OF and a
result OF these circumstances their lord
ships. not desiring 10 lnfict the full penalty
| upon Lord Russell. had unanimously de-
cided that Justice would be satisfied by his