THE AMAZING LIBEL SUIT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 218, 3 June 1918, Page 6

THE AMAZING LIBEL SUIT

PEMBERTON BILLING SENSATION ALLEGED PRO-GERMAN PLOT (Eec. June 2, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 31. Hundreds of peoplo were unable to gain admission to the hearing of the l'eiiiberton Hilling libel case. Spencer, sharply cross-examined, gave details of wi alleged pro-German plot, of which. -Mrs. George Koppel was a prominent member, airs. Keppel went to Holland, ami conferred with Von liuhlmann. Tha übject of the. plot was to brim* Mr. Asquith, M. Caillaux, and Signor Giolitti back to power. Mr. Justice Darling intimated that Mm. Keppel would givo evidence later. Mrs, Keppel's counsel stated that she wished to swear that she had not been to Holland since the war began, nor had she seen Von Kuhlmaim. Mr, Justice Darling sympathised with, the witness, but regretted that he was unable to allow her to give evidence. Lord Alfred Douglas gave evidence to the .effect that "Salome" was an immoral and disgusting play, and would be tho greatest evil force in Europe for the past three centuries. The prosecution's production of letters between Oscar Wilde (the author) and witness, exchanged in 1893, led to violent scenes between the witness, the Judge, and Pemberton Billing. -Witness shouted : "It is a shame that this muck should Ik raked up every time I come into Court!" He threatened to tear up tho letter if it were shown him for identification. The handwriting was finally identified while tho usher was holding the letter two yards away. Father Bernard Vaughan gave evidence that tho character of Salome could not be acted by a pure woman, onlv by a moral pervert. Several medical witnesses and dramatic critics gave evidence that the play was immoral. The case was adjourned—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.