The daily worker., 1927-01-29
GLADSTONE, The
MORALIST, End
DADDY BROWNING
Tho Liberal Leader Did
Rob the Nurseries

the Deautltul Jersey NY Laura bell,
the famous nineteenth century cour-
tesan, and Olga Nonikoff, the lovely
Russian spy, were named in the Lon
don courts today as among the wo-
men who infatuated Gladstone, the
great Liberal statesman.
The allegations were made at the
opening of the great trial which has
aroused deep interest in the highest
political and social circles of the
kingdom.
Captain Peter Wright, author and
former secretary to the Supreme War
Council at Versailles, is suing Lord
Gladstone, youngest son Of the Vic
torian statesman, for libel.
Called Gladstone a HypOcrite.
Wright wrote in his book that
Gladstone was a hypocrite in mat
ters Of sex; that his private prac-
tees did not agree with his public
profession. Thereupon Lord Glad
stone in a letter denounced Wright as
a liar, coward, cad and foul fellow
and challenged him to sue him for
libel.
Wright took the stand today and
testified that since he was boy, men
had told him about Gladstone's fond
ness for women.
81 was told that Lily Langtry,
Laura Bell and Olga Nonikoff were
his mistresses," he swore. "Mme.
Nonikoff was sent over by the czarist
government in the seventies for the
purpose Of fascinating Gladstone and
thoroughly succeeded.
Watched Outside of House.
"In Lord Morley's Life of Glad
stone she is described as a Russian
lady who was beginning to exercise
an influence on the opinions of the
important man. heard also that
detectives appointed to watch over
Mr.. Gladstone during the Fenian
days complained they were kept up
late watching the outside of Nine.
Nonikoff's house, yet had to attend
divine service the same morning.
Fourteen years ago l went to
Eastbourne and met a man called
Cecil Gladstone, whose. resemblance
to the statesman was unmistakable.
He told me he was an illegitimate
son.
II was also told by Frenchman
named Jean Bertrand that he and an
actress named Brassin hadNan intrigue
with Gladstone while visiting London
with a theatrical company"
4 Nineteenth Century Sheik.
Wright was also allowed to say on
the stand that a well-known West
End physician used to say that his
women patients were in the habit OF
remarking that Gladstone was pay
ing them attentions. In this connec-
ton Wright added: .
"A steeplechase rider named Charlie
Thompson, who is still alive, told me
three years ago Of an actual case.
The event occurred forty years ago
when Gladstone tried to make the ac-
quaintance Of lady he was with.
Thompson said he left the lady out
side Of a shop for few minutes and
on. his return Gladstone was talking
to her. Gladstone fled when he saw
Thompson and the lady told Thomp-
son Gladstone had been making over
lures to her."
During the sitting of the Supreme
War Council in December Of 1917,
Lord Miner said to Wright, accord
ing to his testimony:
"Gladstone was governed by his
seraglio," which the witness UNDER
stood to be a reference to the states
mans passion for women.
The folliwing passage was read
from Mrs. O'Shea's book on Parneu.
(Parnell's liaison with Mrs. O'Shea
ruined him.:
"Parnell said to me; i don't trust
that grand old spider any further
than | can see him.
Five Committed Adultery.
There ensued an argument between
Judge Avory and Wright about this
statement attributed to Lord Gran
vile, who was once Gladstone's for
eign secretary: 81 have known five Of
Queen Victoria's prime ministers
who committed adultery"
The Judge observed the five did not
necessarily include Gladstone.
Extracts were read from book,
"Recollections and Reflections" byl
"a Lady Of No Importance" which
mentioned Gladstone as an admirer of
Laura Bell, beautiful woman with
fair hair, wonderful eyes and pretty
figure. Gladstone" said the writer,
swas a wonderful old man and in his
old age distinctly amorous."
Faithless TO His Wife.
Before court adjourned the cross
examination Of Wright began. He
was asked:
Isn't the charge that man is
gross sensualist about as horrible a
charge as can be brought against any
MANI
Answer--"No, because it has been