The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-27
One of Famous Parties to Case
Not Dead. as Many Had
Believed.
by LA NARaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

by LA MARQUISE DE FONTENoY
- HE recent announcement in tho
London papers that Richard
i Belt. sculptor. IS still alive Will
come as q surprise. to many who
remember the famous Belt-I.awes trial
that took place IN 1883. and which was
the occasion of one of the most ex-
traordinary scenes In tho way of evil
oence tnaL ever w6s witnessed in a
British court OF justice.
The information that Mr.. Belt Is
not DEAD, put on the contrary is lead
Ing Il particularly active life In Lon
DON" Ii contributed by one OF mis-
friends. presumably, tlu. reason there
Tor being That In an obituary notice OF
Sir Charles Lawes- Wittewhnge. Il
reference was made 10 tho Iatfer's
lawsuit against the late Air. Belt
Tine lawsuit referred to made u tre-
mendous sensation. not only In Lon
don. but III artistic circles all over
the world. Sir Charles Lawes-Wittcw-
ronge (prohounced Wit-rong) was then
known simply az Charles Lawes. not
cnetcy and estates. as well as the
additional property which caused him.
In accordance with the terms OF the
VIII OF the relAtiye granting the be-
quest. to assume the name or Wtttew-
ronye III addition TO his own. when
he did by royal license. in 1902.
Charles Lawes was an eminent
sculptor. ana won lame US such IN
II
the foremost athlete OF his day, rrst
ut Eton, and attIrSnrds 1T CAR pridge e.,
Where lie rowed stroke" in two sue
cessive Years IN the interun'versity
race. On leaving college no adopted
the artistic procession. becoming III
course OF time the president OF the
Incorporated society OF British Sculp-
tors. Among his most notable WORKS
was that exhibited at the Franco brit
Ism Exhibitor in London. three years
ago, wnep his superb marble group.
me Death OF Dirce," was the feature
OF the r'iile Arts Palace. and was de-
scriped as one of the greatest triumphs
vi British plastic art. II is. 'ndeea. a
subject taal lends itself to the most
spirited treatment. and calls forth in
tie highest degree tho talent. or the
hardly remind my readers. was, ac-
corning TO the Greek legend. tied 10
tho horns OF a. wild bull, which drag
Ged her ABOUT till She died.
Round about the early eighties of
ihe last century. Charles LIwes had
III his studio pupil named Richard
be!l, VINO. II would seem Yas al very
pushing and ambitious young man. for
himself, accepting and executing-or
ootatninS the execution of-orucrs Tor
Gusts OF prominent people. memorial
sta,Ges' etc; Now, Charles Lawes had
Abilities OF mis- late pupil. and AID not
hesitate to express them. a paragraph
appeared in the London society paper.
Vanity Fair, intimating that Rich
ard Belt was not actually the author
or the statue OF Dean Stanley, OF the
byron Monument. nor OF the busts OF
Charles Kingsley and Canon Conway
that he had merely employed others
10 execute these works TOR him. Belt
took no notice of this paragraph. But
when Charles Lawes wrote to the
Lord Mayor of London. ayowing him
SELF tho author OF tho paragraph IN
Vanity Fair and warning the Mayor
against employing Belt in certain art
Work then in contemplation, the
friends of Belt insisted upon his com
menc!ng libel suit against Lawes
This he did. and it came on for
trial In 1883. lasting forty-flve days
and engaging the services OF the most
eminent lawyers. Belts preliminary
expenses were betrayed by subscrip-
lions furnished by his friends and
admirers. mostly people of the So
called aesthetic" cult, who were very
active Just about that time, and who
are so amusingly satirized by Gilbert
and sullivan In their popular operetta.
Patience. or Bunthornes Bride"
II was during the course of this
trial that the curious scene L have
referred TO took place. Belt, In order
TO support his assertion that no was
sculptor, and not mere employer
OF sculptors. undertook. then and there,