The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-19
GUILTY OF B|GAMY
PLEADS TIE EARL
Russell Arraigned Before the
House of Lords.
The TRIAL is VERY BRIEF
The Earl Condemned to Three Months
Imprisonment.
The TRIAL Is VERY BRIEF
PLEADS AGAINST COURTS JURISDICTION
Lord Russell Says He Acted in ignorance. The
Court Admits There Were Mitigating Cir
cumstances and Therefore I'm
poses Light Sentence.
(By the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press.)
| London uly 1S-Earl Russell arraign-
today for trial on the charge of big
| amy. pleaded guilty after long argu-
ments against the jurisdiction of the
court.
| The trial was carried on with all the
| quaint middle age ceremonies. The ar
guments lasted one hour. Both the
Earl and Countess Russell (Mrs. Somer-
ville) through their counsel pleaded
that they did not know they were do
ing wrong, but had acted on the best
legal advice obtainable in Nevada.
The peers reached their decisions af-
ter consideration of the case lasting
twent yminutets.
Earl Russell was sentenced to three
months imprisonment as a first class
misdemeanant
The scene in the royal gallery. tenn
porarlly converted into a court of ius-
tlce, when the Lord High Chancellor
Lord Haisbury, who had been appoint
ed Lord High Steward for the occa-
sion took his seat upon the dais and
the quaint ceremonial began, was most
picturesque.
About 200 of Earl Russelrs peers at
tended his trial. Lord Salisbury. the
Premier, brought up the rear of the
procession and was almost unnoticed
as he took his seat near Lord Halsbury
Immediately beneath the dias sat the
TO i11I IN, ha;
rounded by a phalanx of lesser legal
luminaries. no either side of the judges
were ranged five benches filled with
peers. whose rank was distinguished by
the varying number of rows of crime
and gold lace on their scarlet mantles
The benches reserved for peeresses
were amply filled, while the space al
lotted to distinguished strangers was
crowded with diplomats and their fam
lilies, including United States Ambassa-
dor Choate.
Mollie Cooke, otherwise Mrs. Somer-
vile, Earl Russel's present wife, en-
tered the hall by ticket and sat facing
the benches occupied by members of the
House of Commons. Among the wit
nesses who entered the hall was Judge
koelher, of Nevada, who took a seat
beside the clergyman who married Earl
Russell to Mabel Scott his first wife
The court was formally opened by a
series of quaint ceremonies and the ex-
change of stately phrase prescribed in
the ancient legal procedure. Beside
Lord Halsbury, in his earl's robes and a
full -butpned wig, stood General Sir
Michael VBiddulph, Gentleman Usher
n 10
Weldon Esquire, the Norroy King of
Arms, in resplendent tunic.
Our sovereign Lord and King, y
shouted the Norroy King of Arms.
charges and commands all manner of
persons TO keep silence on pain of i'm
| prsonment''
| After further formalities Earl Rus
| sell was conducted to the bar. He was
| dressed in gray suit and fore red
tie. A clerk of Parliament cried
| loudly"
| John Francis Stanley, Earl Russell
| come forth and surrender to bail or
| forfeit recognizances
Black Rod, bedecked with medals and
| in uniform, approached the bar. which
was raised as the Earl drew near, and
| surrendered Earl Russell. Then the in
| dlctment was read by the clerk.
| His counse lobjectetd to the indict-
| ment, on the ground that the alleged
offense was committed outside of the
dcminions of His Majesty, King Ed
| ward.
| After the reply of the prosecution
to the argument of counsel for the de-
fense, Earl Russell. in voice scarce
| ly audible, pleaded guilty His counsel
| then addressed the House in mitiga-
| ton, pleading that the accused had
| acted upon the best legal advice obtain
| able in Nevada. that the offense was
merely technical, and that no harm
had been done Mabel Cooke.
Lord Russell then addressed the
House in the same strain. saying the
decree obtained in the United States
gave social sanction to the new mar
riage Earl Russell said he proposed
to remarry Mollie' Cooke as early as
possible. He had acted in ignorance
and with no intention of willingly de-
flying the law.
The peers retired to consider their
High Steward announced that King Ed
ward had a right to legislate for his
subjects all over the world. Lord Halls
bury said while the crime would not be
passed over, there were several miti-
eating circumstances.
rrrt-z se-f,, not p