M.P.'S IN COURT

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 October 1917, Page 1

M.P.'S IN COURT

EIGHT IN PALACE YARD. CHALLENGE WITH THE GLOVES. During tlie debate on the Vote of Credit in the House of Commons on Wednesday < evening, July 25, there was a conflict of words between Colonel Archer-Shee, Unionist member for Central Finsbury, and Mr Pembertbn Billing, Independent member . for Hertford. After the "member for the air" (as he is frequently called) had expressed doubts concerning the accuracy of ■ a reply given by Air Macpherson, UnderSecretary of State for War, Colonel Archer-Shee rose, and, according to the official report, said: "The hon. member made a- most gross, offensive, and insulting attack upon officers ; in the War Office in relation to the officer who supplied the Under-Secretary for War with an answer. Hie hon. member stated < in the most offensive, insulting, aaul caddish language that these officers had lied. I venture to say that, whatever fault the " British officer has, there is no British officer at the present time in the service who ; is a liar." - Mr Billing : " If the hon. member wishes to be offensive to me personally I hope lie will repeat it outside in the lobby, so that ( I may be able to deal with it." Colonel Archer-Shee : " Certainly. I wijl repeat it to the hon. member wherever he likes." •Mr Billing : " You shall this evening." Colonel Axcher-Shee: I say the remarks of the hon. member for East Herts are most offensive and insulting-to officers of the Army. They are absolutely untrue. As an officer of the Army, I resent then! intensely." x Developments followed. After the lapse of a few minutos the disputants found themselves confronting each other in the lobby, where a brief but angry ''altercation occurred. This is Mr Billing's version of what occurred: ' I asked my opponent to come outside. I went into Palace Yard in the hope that i he would follow me. I waited for half an , liour—until nearly 11—befcre he did so. J I asked him to repeat what he had said , in the House of Commons. He started , an explanation I told him I wanted no explanation, but an apology. He did not comply. I thereupon turned to walk to my car when I felt a- blow on the side of my head. I turned round.' Colonel Aic-her-Shee was the only person near me. and I knocked him down. As he fell he kicked out and caught rae on the shin. To avoid further kicks I sat down on him. The police then ran up and pulled me off, although I protested that it was a private fight. I asked my opponent to come where the matter could be settled without interference. He walked away without replying." The complete Sght was witnessed by five policemen and one chauffeur. Next day Mr Billing was reported to have sent the following letter to Colonle Arclier-Shee:— - "Sir,—As it has been brought to my notice that you aTe not- satisfied with the termination of the incident which took place between us in the Palace Yard at 10.30 last nidit, in fulfilment of the assurance which. I gave you in the House as to my method of replying to you or to any other member who sees fit to abuse the privileges of the House of Commons by personally insulting me, T have pleasure in making the following proposition to you:—That, at a date to be arranged to suit the convenience of i all parties, we shall meet at the National Sporting Club, and there settle the matter in a, 20-rouiul contest- under the Marquis of Queensberry rules, weight of gloves to be decided by a committee of the club, and the loser shall pay a hundred guineas to the Red Cress Fund. Further," that the National Sporting Club shall, in' their discretion, mako any charges they may think fit to visitors who may wish to visit this exliibition, the whole of the-proceeds to be devoted to afund which has already been initiated for the purpose of providing boxing and other articles of sport to our men., in fhe trenches. I shall be glad to hear v from you at your convenience, and in view of the regrettable publicity with which thi:-\ incident has already been attended I am sending a copy of this letter to the Press." Colonel Archer-Shee was at the House \ of Commons on July 26, Mi- Billing was- not. During the afternoon tlv> colonel, who showed no si§ns of any coii- - fiict, declined to say anything; but in the evening lie gave the representative of the ' Daily Telegraph' the following statement for publication:— House of Commons, July 26, 1917. " Sir, —As Mr Pembertoi) Biffing has issued •a statement to tlie Press with reference to the incident which occurred on Wednesday night- at the House of Commons, which is almost in every detail at variance with the fact, I am compelled to ask you to be god enough to publish my version of the incident. " Mr Billing came to me at about 10.20 p.m., while Mr Thomas wa& speaking, and ysked me to-repeat the remarks which I had made during my speech earlier in the evening. As he fa id he could not wait until ll_p.in., T told him that I would be with- him in a minute or two, as Mr /Thomas had been referring to my speech. At about 10.25 I went out to him. Several members sa.w me go. So much for Mr Billing's assertion that lie waited half an hour for me. "We walked out of the House together, and I invite'd Mr Billing to come to my Hat. where we would be undisturbed. Tills he refused, as lie said he was not going to suit my convenience. I then suggested that I should ijo to his residence, hut, as 1 understood linn, he said that he had no residence in Loadon. We walked out to Palace Yard, and I repeated what I had said in the House in accordance with his lequest. He then entered iijto an explanation of the air raid, and showed me a photograph of a German plane, and finally. I'sing fo-il langu ige, and adopting " a menacing attitude to me. he restated that the officers who supplied Mr Macpherson with an answer had lied. "As he looked as if /lie were going to strike me I struck him in self-defence. His statements (1) that I struck him as he walked away, (2) that 1 knocked hini down. (3) that I kicked him, are devoid of foundation. Me wrestled with mo. and we both fell to the ground, where we exchanged a few more blows before we were separated. " I acted entirely in self-defence, and no other course was open to me in view of his attitude.—Yours faithfully, " M. ABl;hek-BHKE.:' CoioneL Aiclior-Shee is in his 45th year. After seiriiig i» the Royal Navy as a midshipman he entered the Army, joining the 19tli Hussars in 1893. He went, through

tlie South African War and was at the Siege of Ladysmitli. He became D.5.0., and was mentioned three times in despatches. He proceeded with the British Expeditionary Force in the present war, has sustained an injury in the spine, and came from the front on leave a few days ago. Kir Billing is only 37 years of age. He fought in South Africa, 1899-1901. From 1914 to 1916 he served in the Royal Naval Air Service, and is now a retired squadron commander. He unsuccessfully contested Mile-end in January, 1916, but was elected as an Independent for Eiast Herts in March. One of Colonel Ai'cher-Shee's personal friends informed the Central News representative that the colonel returns to. France at once to rejoiii his regiment, after short leave. "When he has finished fighting Germans he will no doubt find an opportunity of dealing with Mr Billing's challenge." Mr Bettinson. manager of tlie National Sporting Olub, when informed of illBilling's challenge to Colonel Archer-Shee, told a Press representative that he was sure the committee of the /National Sporting Club would be 'only too willing to enttrtain such a contest, especially as the result would be that a charitable institution would benefit. He thought it would be a good way to obtain a hundred guineas for the-Red Cross fund. Mr Bettinson concluded by saying that there would certainly be no objection to the contest taking place at headquarters, and that the match would undoubtedly create much interest and also amusement.