The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09
LONDON SnOCKED BY SCANDAL.
POLICE CATCH or DEGENERATES
LED ny 4 NOBLEMAN.
King Has Ordered Him Banisheti-M
Other Members OF AristOcratic Fam.
lilies Involved. but Shielded-Two Of
the Least Prominent Sentenced In
Open COurt--t1erEyman's Discovery.
Special cable Despatch TO THE srs.

Special Cable Despatch to THE sun
LONDON, Nov Sit is impossible TO en-
tirely ignore the startling evidence of
degeneracy in high places which to-day is
the talk Of all London. II il a case blacker
and more extensive than the Cleveland
street scandal OF fifteen years ago and
involves names OF wider than English
reputation.
So abhorrent Is the story and so wide
spread its ramihcations that il has been
decided TO prevent a full exposure, and 80
avoid To some extent, great national
disgrace and the pollution OF the public
mind
just ice will therefore only be part tally
executed. and In its place Will be substituted
an unofficial decree of Punishment which
will expat rate at least one prominent
peer. Another still greater name. which
must not be indicated, t., to use the ex-
preston employed 10y the police in the
case, tinged by scandal.
No less than thirty persons have already
been ident fled with this infamous coterie.
They are nearly all men of advanced years.
wealthy and members of aristocratic
families
The only public action taken In the case
80 far is the conviction OF two men at the
Norwich Assizes this week Bernard
Fraser, a son of Gen. Fraser. member
of the Bachelors and other swell clubs.
pleaded guilty on several counts. and was
sentenced TO ten years at penal servitude
Arthur Thorold nephew of the late
Bishop Thorold. tutor at Eton, made the
same plea, and was sentenced to five years.
The Magistrate, Justice Grantham. In
passing sentence. said that this was one
g 10. Il I, hat, h. bar
Judge had ever been called upon TO try.
Here were two men bearing names that
had been honored in the field and the forum.
and in every branch of life, who had pleaded
guilty TO one of the most discreditabe Of
fences known TO the law.
Fraser's case, the Judge said. was tho
worst Of which he had ever heard. While
moving in high society he had been leading
n double life and debauching others. 1t
was therefore his Honor's duty to infict the
full penalty Of the law.
The Judge thanked the British naval
Captain. who 10y intercepting letters adj
dressed TO the members Of the crew OF his
vessel. furnished the evidence which led
TO the exposure. Investigations by the
police led to the discovery of such appalling
nfamy that 1t became a serious question
of public policy as to how far they should
proceed in their inquiries, which had led
them TO well-known country houses, private
yachts and other quarters Of the most
wealthy and aristocratc circles
IL was soon learned that the chief figure
In this criminal band was a well-known
nobleman. II should be said. In order to
prevent confusion with famous Earl,
whose name was connected by private
gossip with the Cleveland street scandal,
that the present individual ia one of the
peers created by Mr. Gladstone. He was
formerly Member OF Parliament, and az
that time was regarded as the handsomest
man in the House of Commons. He has
held high Office and married the daughter
OF one of the wealthest families in the
world. He is also rich in his own right.
This matter assumed such omino,is shape
that according to the current version in
culbland. it was brought to the attention
of the King. His Majesty's decision was
that the offending peer, who Is now i'll,
must leave England As soon as he Is able
TO travel, never to return.
II is notorious that this L. not the first
nobleman who has been banished from
Great Britain for this cause. Perhaps it
is mere coincidence that n sensational
narrative should be published just at this
time credited to a clergyman whose name
Il renowned throughout England. and who
Is near relative Of a member of the pres
ent Government.
He was summoned one evening to Rich
mond, which is London's most ars;ocratic
suburb, TO the bedside Of dying girl
He was conducted by the back way Of
large mansion. which was apparently
dark, and was situated on extensive ground.
II "A. l.. l.. IL.
# which have not been disclosed. The
girl died before he left.
he refused to accompany an attendant
10 the rear when he descended, but went
through the front rooms where he found
an orgy going on, Many men were being
entertained 10y very young girls Fully
twenty men servants in gorgeous livery
were scattered about.
He paid no attention to these people at
frst but presently he saw a drunken, de-
crepit man Of at least 20 years Of age speak
to a mere child. The girl shrank away.
The master of the establishment, who has
since been identified as Il certain French
Nicomte signallcd TO "A footman, who seized
the girl and carried her from the room.
The young woman screamed and struggled
violently.
Thercupon the clergyman stepped up TO
the mar ager, and asked him what he meant
by eucA brutality, and what was the mean
ing Of the whole conduct Of the house.
The reverend narrator continues his story
thus:
Il nave never seen such amazement
As was depicted on the faces of all those
present. and l am firmly convinced that
owe my life to the presence of two ind-
viduals, who, il they are depraved, are AT
least men; but each, | regret to say is a
member Of one Of the houses Of Parlia-
mcnt, left the house not only with the
girl mentioned, but with two Of her COM
panions, who, rushing up to me, claimed
my protect ion"
respectable local newspaper which
prints the foregoing story vouches for its
truth.