PEMBERTON BILLING ACQUITTED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 221, 6 June 1918, Page 5

PEMBERTON BILLING ACQUITTED

EXTRAORDINARY SCENES IN LIBEL SUIT

ACCUSED IMPERTINENT TO

THE BENCH

(Eec. Juno 5, 9.30 p.m.)

London, June L Ine last day of the hearing in the Pemberton Billing; libel action was one of the stormiest, Billing sat in tho dock, saving that ho wanted no 'further privileges from tho Judge. _ Mr. Justice Darling replied that Billing could sit where ho liked. Billing frequently interrupted Mr' (counsel) epoeoh, in spite ot tho Judge's threats to oxpel him. Sir. Justioe Darling, summing up deplored the fact that Sir Edward Grey's (Viscount Grey) name eliould have been dragged in.

The witness Spencer proteated that Sir Edward Grey's name was 1 not mentioned, and he was expelled from tho,court. Mr. Justice Darling'pointed, out that no witness had attempted to prove any indecency in Maud Allan's dancing. lord Alfred Douglas shouted, "Ton have no right. to say that I wrote the piny. It's a damned lie!" He wns ejected amidst'the applause of his supporters. Mr. Justice Darling again threatened to remove Billing for interrupting, and a number of porsons in the gallery hissed the Judge. Subsequently a woman was ejected for iatorrupting'Mr. Justice Darling's address. Billing and the Judge. . ' When the Judge remarked that BillIng's friends in the gallery had (applauded outrageously yesterday, Billing replied that ho could not help applause from the .gallery any more than the Judge eoula help laughing at his own jokes. Tho Judge indignantly retorted: "You eay you insulted me in the Press and in Parliament. You now insult me to my face! I toll yon I do not care a bit.for you or anyone like you." ■■ When Mr. Williams allmled to Maud 'Allan's brothor as a murderer, Maud Allan wept bitterly. Mr. Justice Darling directed the jury to eay whether the libel was true in fact and published for tho public benefit. The jury deliberated for over an hour,and brought in a verdict of not guilty. Billing after his acquittal -was tremend.oiisly cheered in court and in the streets. The Judge cleared tho court. The other indictments were abandoned. Scandalous .Stage productions. After tho verdict, Mr. Justice Darling, addressing tho jury, said that undoubtedly a perfect scandal existed .regarding tho manner in which certain representations woro allowed on the London stage. He wondered why tlie.mi.thoritiea did not exercise their poweivs in order to prevent tho scandal. If they did not, women with the new voto should insist on the preservation of the laws of purity. Billing attempted to address the Judge, but the latter replied: "I do not wish to hear you," nnd quitted (he bench. Some of Billing's lady friends, who had been ejected from the gallery, decked him with flowers.—A u's.-N.Z.. Cable 'Assn.