The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-22
WINDSOR LIBEL SUIT $ CLOSED
Publishers Make Apology to Duke British Judge
 Denounced Author

London, Nov. 22-CUP)-The Duke of WindsoE's libel suit against the author and publishers of the book, Coronation Commentary" has been settled out of court, the lord chief justice of the kings bench court an- nounced today, ntt %s.N,
 The lord chief justice denounced the author, Geoffrey Dennis, for writing Q foul, cruel llber which ''appeared almost to invite q thor oughly efilcacious horsewhlp".
 He indicated that there might be criminal action against Dennis.
 The duke, through his solicitor, A, c. Allen, had filed the suit against William Heinemann, Ltd, the pub- fishers, and Dennis, on April 27. He was annoyed with Dennis statement that accused him of "muddling, fud- ding ard meddlMg" while on the throne, .,e.,.,.'.,s.- ... Letter of Apology
 The publishing house had sent Q letter of apology to the duke, then at St. WolfNrg, Austria, the day be- fore. Ns
 Today the lord chief justice con. sented to withdrawal of the record after e full and complete apology by the defendants who assumed dam- ages and court costs, s.,N .gr,
 Sir William Jowitt, representing the duke at today's proceedings, an- nounced that the defendants would pay e substantial sum In damages and costs which the duke would divide among various charities in which, as the Prince of Wales and king, he had been interested.
 Regarded As Crime @
 Publication of the libel may be regarded as Q crime" said the lord chief justice, because it was 0alcu- lated to cause Q breach of peace."
 Opening the case for the duke, Sir William refuted the lihelS con- tained in the book.
 "The rumor repeated therein that the lady, now the plaintiffs wife, occupied before the position of his mistress" he said. NO statement could be more damaging or more insulting the statement could never be justified"
 Sir William said Coronation Commentary" suggested that the real cause for King Edwards abdi- cation was that his advisers wanted to 'get rid of him for other rea- sons."
 Necessary To Proceed
 "lf 1t had been necessary to pro- ceed with this case" he declared, Y would have been in . position to coll persons In responsible posts to show that the proposed marriage was not used as an excuse to get rid of the monarch"
 Jowitt continued:
 Tt also was alleged that he had recourse to other sources of Cour- age.' suppose this means having recourse to drink.
 Tt e utterly untrue to soy that then or anytime In the reign-be- fore, during or after these events was his courage affected by drink or other sources"
 Sir William declared that the for- mer king was accused further on grounds of "Neo-kaiSerisin ynuddling, fuddling and meddling also in connection with the Egyptian treaty day and with the Ataturk day in Athens"
 Mere Idle Gossip
 Those charges, he added, were ''inere, idle gossip and devoid of any truth whatsoever"
 Sir William discussed in detail the occasion at Aberdeen, Scotland, In the summer Of io36, when the for- iner king allegedly gave Up his pub- lie engagements to meet the former Mrs. Wallis Warfleld Simpson.
 "The suggestion that he threw over the authorities in Aberdeen for any reason or failed to keep his en. agreements Is demonstrably false," he declared. ..
 Hc finally rejected the report that Edward decided to abdicate early in the crisis but delayed his decision In order to demand money from the government and royal family.
 There Is no foundation for the calumnious insinuation that the duke was holding out TOT money" nc aS- serted.
 e'- Statement Of Regret
 After giving what was believed to be 6 recitation of the true facts" of the abdicatton--that Edward de- sired to marry Mrs. Simpson, to which the cabinet ministers disa. greed and decided that he must abe dicate-sir William concluded that the defendants were making c State- ment of deep regret" and paying substantial damages.
 "The duke will see that they are divided among the charities in which as king and prince he took partticu- lar interest,"" he said. ,..
 The amount of damages or costs was not revealed.