Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-27
GLADSTONE LIBEL
TRIAL OPENS TODAY
SIur on EngIand's Famous
Victorian Statesman Fought
by His Two Sons.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, January 27-The private
life and reputation Of the late William
E. Gladstone. prime minister and
grand old man" of Victorian times
figure in a sensational libel case open
ing today in which two sons Of the
famous statesman hope to vindicate
the character Of their illustrious
father against imputations of i'm
morality.
The principals are
Capt. Peter Wright, free lance
journalist and London clubman, edu-
Gated at fashionable Harrow School
and oxford, who started the contro-
Versy by allegations in a book. "Por
traits and Criticisms" as to the moral
character of the elder Gladstone.
Nlscount Gladstone, militant IL
year-old son of the famous liberal
leader, who as Herbert Gladstone. was
home secretary and first governor
general of South Africa. from 1903 to
1914. In 1910 he was made peer
4 Henry Neville Gladstone, IA. Glad
estonas third son, one time private
secretary to his father; big business
man, for years engaged in the rich
East India trade
Reference That Appeared.
Publication of Capt. Wright's book
reused Gladstone's sons and stirred
the ire of all who revered the memory
of their father. The troublesome ref
erence was:
Mr.. Gladstone--Who founded the
great tradItion, since observed by SO
many of his followers and successors
with such pi0us fidelity in public to
speak the language of the highest and
strictest principles and in private to
pursue and possess every sort of
woman.
The sons Of Gladstone flared. Wis
count Gladstone Immediately chal-
lenged Wright, called him a liar. a
coward and a fool. which invited libel
action from Wright Capt Wright
repeated the aspersion and then. ac-
cepting the Gladstone invitation
brought the libel action. Wright
maintained that his written statement
in his book was made on the authority
of the late Lord Miner, who said the
elder Gladstone was governed by
his seragllo-his harem.
- Wright insisted he had written the
truth, but admitted ne was quite
wrong in writing what he did about
a dead man. He said he could not
resent the very natural abuse Niscount
Gladstone heaped upon him. How
ever, nothing would satisfy the Wis
count but complete retraction, and
Wright said he could not make a sin
cere withdrawal of the statement in
his book.
DenunciatI0n OF Wright.
The letter from Niscount Gladstone
TO Capt. Wright on the publication
of the book follows:
Mr.. Peter Wright
Your garbage about Mr.. Gladstone
In Portraits and Criticisms has come
TO nay knowledge. You are liar
Because you Islander a dead man
you are q coward.
And because you think the public
Will accept inventions from such as
you, YOU are a fool
tSigned1 GLADSTONE"
Henry Neville Gladstone associated
himself with MS brothers letter.
Both Gladstone and Wright won
preliminary sklrmishes at tho Bath
Club, famous and exclusive rendezvous
for men In London's West End wnlch
included Fiscount Gladstone and Capt
Wright as members. Nisc0unt Glad
stone drew first blood by having the
captain expelled from the club
Wright retaliated by suing the club
for wrongful expulsion court