Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-19
EARL RUSSELL
Sentenced to Three Months in
Holloway Prison..
Pleads Guilty to Charge Of Bigamy
in House of Lords.
Mitigating Circumstances Causes Peers to
Impose Light Sentence.

arguments against the jurisdiction of
the court Earl Russell was senten-
ced to three months imprisonment as
n first-class misdemeanant.
The trial began at IL o'clock and was
carried on with all the quaint and mid
die ages ceremonies. The arguments
lasted one hour. Both the Earl and
Countess Russell and their counsels
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
20 minutes consideration of the case.
| In anticipation of the arrival OF Lord
| Russell, the officials of Holloway pris-
on had prepared for his reception one
of the rooms formerly occupied by Edi-
tor VIM. r. Stead ana members of the
jameson raiders 1t is Il commodious
apartment. in which his lordship can
be supplied with his own food and
wines.
The scene in the royal gallery. tenn
porarily converted into a court of JUS
tice when the lord high chancellor,
Lord Salisbury. who had been appoint
| ed lord high steward for the occa-
sion. took his seat upon the dais and
4
most picturesque. The hall was a mag
nificcnt blaze of color, produced by the
| robes of the peers. the academic robes
Of the judges ana the brilliant uni
| forms of high state officers.
Although the House Of Lords was
| not represented in its full strength.
about 200 of Earl Russells peers at
tended his trial ana filed into the hall
| two by two, from behind the throne.
Lord Salisbury, the premier. brought
up the rear Of the procession and was
aluost unnoticed Us he took his seat
near Lord Salisbury.
immediately beneath the latter's
dlis sat the ton judges in their gor-
gcCus robes surrounded by phalanx
Of lesser legal luminaries. on either
side of the judge were arranged five
benches flied with peers whose rank
was distinguished by the varying num-
Der of rows of ermine and gold lace
on their scarlet nantes. The benches
reserved for peeresses We're amply
filled. while the space allotted to dis
tinguished strangers was crowded
with diplomats and their families. in
udng United States Ambassador
Choate. secretary Of the United States
Embassy White. Mollle Cook. other
wise Mrs. Somerville. Earl Russells
present wife. entered the hall by tick
ct ana sat facing the benches occu-
ped by members of the House of
Commons. She appeared no more con
ceIncd than the other witnesses Of the
interesting scene
The court was formally opened by
a series of quaint ceremonies and the
exchange Of stately phrases prescribed
in the ancient legal procedure.
| Reside Lord Salisbury stood Gen. Sir
Michael Ridduph. gentleman usher of
the black Rod. ana VIM. Henry Wei
den, ESQ. the noiroy king Of arms. in
n Respondent tuniC.
our 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 lcndod knee
handed the commi. sion 10 the lord
high chancellor who. while handing It
back To another knceling clerk. said:
Let all he uncovered Willie tie COM
mission il read"
After the necessary formalit.c4. Earl
Russell was conducted to the bar. He
was dressed in gray suit ana wore
n read tie. Then the clerk Of Parlia-
ment cried loudly:
John Francis Stanley. Earl Rus
sell, come forth ana surrender to bail
'r forfeit recogniZance."
Upon reaching the appointed sent. Ear
Russell stood leaning agans: the tab g.,
and then made ubeisancc three times 1,
the lord high steward. He remained
with bowed head until the latter address
cd the accused. Then the indictmcn. wa
read BY the clerk. who concluded with
these words:
How say you. my lord. guilty of fc-
ony or not guilty.
Before Earl Russell coLll answer. hi
counsel objected to the indictment on tn,
ground that the alleged offence was com
mitted outside of the dominions of Hi
Majesty. King Edward.
After the reply Of the prosecution t.
the argument of counsel for the defence.
Earl Russell. in n voice scarcely audible.
pleaded guilty.
His counsel then addressed the House
in mitigation, pleading the accused had
acted upon me best legal advice obtain
able in Nevada and that the offence was
merely technical.
Lord Russell then addressed the lions
in the same strain. He said he proposed
to re-marry Mollic Cooke as early as pos.
sible. The peers retired to consider thor
verdict. When they had re-assemblea
the lord high steward called for the priS
oner
While the crime could not be passed
over, said the lord high steward. at the
same time there were several mitigating
circumstances. Lord Rlsscil had passed
through long periods Of troGble: he had
| experienced extreme provOcation and
suffered much torture In .CoriSidera ton
of and as a result of these circumstances
their lordships had unanimously decided
that justice would be satisfied by his be
ing imprisoned in Holloway prison for
three months as criminal in the first di-
vision.