THE CHARGE AGAINST SIR CHABLES DILKE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1231, 2 October 1885, Page 3

THE CHARGE AGAINST SIR CHABLES DILKE.

The London correspondent of tlv Liverpool Mercury, referring to this, matter, says Mrs Ciawford is very voim?, is vary pretty, ami is very well known in society as the dm.liter of Mr Kusfaoe .Smith, and the sifter of Mr\shton Dilke. The evidence is mainlv derived from a sort of confession made liy her under great excitement, in the form of a charge against 'ir Charles. ■ He himself, 1 believe, knew nothing of ilie indictment until the scandal w s the common talk of the town What the lady understood whit hei statement really meant and imp'iei, she withdrew it, and efforts were made t> bring the hu-baud to understand that he had been made the victim of the extravagance of an hysterical woman The st-oty tha- he t ok L 20,000 to hush the matter up was , an insult to him as a man, and is a pme (nr rather an impure) invention. .Sir Charles Dilke has taken a consists ent course. He has said simply th .t the story is not fuo. it came upon him with surprise, and cau-ed such a shock that he was physioa'ly pros- ( (rated ; for the lady, wh .lever may he I said of the story which she first told and then contradicted, has eijovcl with him all the freedom of a si'ter Mrs Crawford, as Mrs Ashton Di.ke’s sister, has been like one of the Dilke family, and I think I may go so fiir as to say that, owing to the quite possih e innocent himi'iatiry whichexisted.it is very difficult, for anv disproof to he given. Mrs Craw'or.l’s original story contains ally repulsive elements which afford Bir Charles i Dilke’s friends every hope that th dr | very heinonsnessmay become evidence | of their improh .bility. Mir Charles l has put his case into the hands of the

Attorney- ieueral He leaves his political fate in the. liaads of his coin mitteo at Chelsea

The followin'} is Sir Chas. Dilke’s letter to Mr a 4. NV. Osborn, the President of the Borough of Chelsea Liberal Association:—

76 Slo ne street. S.W., August 7, My dear Osborn —I yesterday received formal notice of the commencement of legal proceedings in reference to a matter sen ously affecting mv private character, the nature of which I hive alien ly communicated to yon. Tue oh urge brought against me is untrue, an I I look forward with con* H lence to the result of the judicial inquiry which must now take place. In the meantime I am preclu 'e<l from making any de'aUed reply, bat I am convinced that neither my friends nor my opponents will do me tho injustice of condemning me unheard, I have to request that yon will take steps to convene a meeting of the Council of the Liberal Association for this boroagh in order that these circumstances maybe submitted for theit consideration. If the council should be of opinion that the interests of the party will suffer at the general election by being confided to me, who rest, however undeservedly, under so grave an imputation, I shall be prepared to place myself entirely in their hands, and to retire from all public life until this accusation shall have been disproved, ' It is with deep regret that I make this communication and contemplate the severance even for a time of relations which have existed so tong between the constituency of Chelsea and mvself. I wish to add tiie expression of uiy gratitude for the kindness and generous cuiti lence I have receive I since 1867 from my supporters, and for the forbearance and eon trey exien led to mo by rny political opponents.—Faithfully vnurs, “ I HA': LBS \V. DILKB.”