South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-31
BEGINS DEFENSE
IN LIBEL SUIT
Member of Parliament Al.
pears in London Police
Court.

LONDON. Nay 81. - Noel Penn
berton-Bnnng, member Of parlia-
ment for East Hertfordshire and
publisher OF the newspaper Yigi-
lante. opened his defense in his
trial in the Bow Street police court
Thursday on the charge Of libelling
Maude Allen, dancer, and J. T.
Grein. manager os the Independent
theater. Mrs. Villiers Stewart was
called TO testify to the existence OF
a book which Pemberton- BILLING
said had been prepared by German
secret agents, containing the names
OF A.. 900 British persons alleged 10
be addicted TO vice and held in
bondage TO Germany through fear
OF exposure.
Mrs. Stewart, under examination
by Mr.. Pemberton- Billing, said the
book which she had seen. but which
was not produced, contained the
names of ex-Premier Asquith and
Mrs. Asquith, Viscount Haldane,
former secretary for war, and Jus
tice Darling. who is trying the case
against the member of parliament.
Another witness, Capt. Harold
Spencer, said ne was shown the
book by Prince William Of WED in
Albania. He said he did not re-
member seeing Mr.. Asquith's name
in it, but he declared the names Of
Mrs. Asquith and Viscount Haldane
were there.
Both Capt. Spencer and Mrs.
Stewart said they had been threat
ened, the former after he had COM
municated the fact 10 the authori-
ties, and Mr.. Pemberton- Billing
asked the judge for protection for
himself and his witnesses. The
judge referred him 10 the chief
commissioner of police.
Capt Spencer, before giving the
name of Mrs. Asquith and Viscount
Haldane. said he would give only
the names of those who had been
approached and had succumbed 10
German temptation. He had placed
the information before the foreign
Office, the war office and the ad-
miralty.
There was great political pres
sure brought 10 bear" said the wit
ness, and 1 was told that if it were
published it would undermine the
whole fabric of the government.
then took it TO the political ma
chine"
Capt Spencer declared that pres
sure had been brought TO bear 10
suppress the matter in September
last. when "a political crisis waS
on and they were trying to brine
Asquith back 10 power
Mr.. Pemberton- Billing explained
/ that his object in calling testi-
mony as TO the existence of the
book of names. was to prove the
| existence of the cult referred 10
in the alleged libel, and its politi-
/ cal significance.
Continuing his testimony. capt
| Spencer, who was a member OF the
/ international gendarmie in Al
| bania before the war and aide de
camp 10 Prince William of WED
and is now a member of the royal
air forces, said he wrote the article
which contained the alleged hbe
/ and which was based on a letter
from Marie Corelli. the novelist
/ Last Septem Der he had heard OF a
Camarilla in financial circles whose
/ object was 10 get Asquith back in
| power and make a German peace
AS a precaution, he informed
American naval headquarters sc
that the plot might be frustrated.
Admiral Mayo and his secre-
/ tary came 10 me and got the whole
| statement" he said.
Asked whether he knew of opera
tions OF the Camarilla betweeE
EngAnd and Germany, the witness
I replied.
They have had messages sem
/ between Germany and EnglanC
/ with this intelligence.
One of the principal messengers
I he learned from persons who had
reported 10 the intelligence depart
| ment. was a we'll known English
/ society woman, Mrs. George Keep
| pei. He had seen Mrs. Keppel come
! back from Holland.