THE TWISS LIBEL CASE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1332, 5 November 1872, Page 3

THE TWISS LIBEL CASE.

After the close of the ordinary business at Sotithwark Police Court on the 28th August, Alexander Chaffers, the defendant in the case heard before this Court some time back, in which Lady Twiss was the complainant, made an application to Mr Benson, the presiding magistrate, for a summons against Lady Twibs for perjury on the evidence aho had given before this Court. Mr Benson : Where is Lady Twiss now? — Applicant: She is abroad I believe. — What use would a summons be if the party is out of England ? Bo yon undertake to have it served if it is issued?

For continuation of News, see 4th page.)

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—I thought a warrant might issue, and I should havo tho information laid so as to be served at her last known residence in Park Lane. What ovidence have you in support of your application I—l1 — I have not brought any witnesses, but I have four I can bring in support of my application. — What would such parties prove J— They would show she was Maria Gelas ; that she was tho daughter of a carpenter, and not of the Count Van Lyseele ; and that she was not born at the place sho atate'd in ovidonco. — These facts are not material as far as regards your application. You remember the circumstances under which you wore summoned. You were summoned for publishing a libel, knowing it to be false. Lady Twiss swore that you said she had led an immoral life, and she on oath denied it. Tf a jury had come to the conclusion she had followed such a lifo they would have acquitted you, if the caso had gone for trial. If the jury had thought otherwise they 'would have convicted you. — I have a certificate to show where sho was born, and to show sho was not what she represented hersolf to bo. The question as to her birthplace would not support your present application that I can see. You must prove Lady Twiss to bo Maria Gelas, and that sho ltd an immoral life, and prove -when she denied it that sho was uttering that which was false. If yon can prove those things you will bo entitled to a summons ; but your indirect evidence as to where sho was born, or who her father was, cannot form a groundwork for the » ! granting of a summons for perjury. The falsehood uttered must be upon something touching tho material facts in the case. I should feel it my duty to grant you a summons if you can produce creditable witnesses to say Lady Twiss was in reality Maria Gelas, and a foreign prostitute, as you alleged. She denied that she had led an improper life, or had even been intimate with yon ; or that she had been to Cremorne and other places with you. — If I prove she used to come to my Office, and she denied she ever had, would that be sufficient ground I— She would not be convicted of a statement of that sort. Sho did not deny she had consulted you legally, and gone to your office on business. That would not provo her to have committed perjury. There was a will mentioned, I think, in the matter ?— Yes, she denied I made a will for her, but for Maria Gelas. I say she is Maria Gelas. — The grounds of your application are not sufficient to form an indictment for perjury; thefgist of the complaint against you was this, that you asserted Lady Twiss had led an immoral life, and that was denied on oath. Applicant here handed in a letter, dated from Courtrai, August 26, 18G6, which he said he could prove was in the handwriting of Lady Twiss. Mr Benson (after reading the letter) : You did not put such a letter in at the caso heard before mo, and you never put such a letter to Lady Twiss, or crossexamined her upon it. Applicant : I have many things I did not mention or cross-examine her about. There was also one witness I intended to have crossexamined if the case had gone to trial who a few years ago got up a charge against Lord Palmerstoii. Your Worship expressed surprise I did not cross-examine that witness, but I reserved it, thinking the case would go for trial. — Mr Benson : Well, if you will bring ovidence to support the statement she was Maria Gelas, and leading an immoral life, I will grant you a summons. — Witnesses I can produce in support of that are not in London, but if you will allow me to renew my application on another day I will bo prepared with evidence.— Yes ; 1 will hear a renewal of your application on some future day, if you can bring sufficient evidence and witnesses to justify my doing so. On the present statement mado by you I cannot grant a summons against Lady Twiss. The applicant, who said he should also have to apply for a summons against a witness in /the caso for perjury, thanked his Worship, and intimated that in a short time he should be prepared with the necessary witnesses and evidenco in support of his application against Lady Twiss.