THE WEST END SCANDAL

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 434, 4 January 1890, Page 6

THE WEST END SCANDAL

(from OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

London, November 22. Club whispers concerning the unspeakable Cleveland-street scandal, which have for some time been growing in volume and gravity, culminated on Friday last in the publication by the “ North London Press ” of a significant article, in which it stated that amongst the number of aristocrats who were mixed up in the indescribably loathsome scandal, were the heir of a duke and the younger son of a duke. It mentioned the names, and added : The former, we believe, has departed for Peru ; the latter, having resigned his commission and his office of Assistant Equerry to the Prince of Wales, has gone -too. These men have been allowed to leave the country, and thus defeat the ends of justice because their prosecution would disclose the fact that a far more distinguished and more highly placed personage than themselves was inculpated in their disgusting crimes. The criminals in this case are to be numbered by the score. They include two or three members of Parliament, one of them being a popular Liberal. We do not intend to repeat the circumstances which we have previously narrated in detail as to the manner in which these scandals are brought to light, but we will simply quote the following from the current issue of “ Truth ” : “ The facts are in the hands of the Home Office and of Scotland Yard, but as some of the greatest hereditary names of the country are mixed up in the scandal, every effort is being made to secure the immunity of the criminals. Indeed, lam credibly informed that

THE HOME OFFICE is throwing obstacles in the way of promptaction on the part of Scotland Yard, and trying to get the persons concerned out of the country before warrants are issued. Very possibly our Government of the classes is of opinion that the revelations which would ensue, were the criminals put on their trial, would deal a blow to the reign of the classes, and to the social influence of the aristocracy. Let them, however, understand that they will not be allowed to protect their friends. It would be really too monstrous if crimes, which, when committed by poor ignorant men, lead to sentences of penal servitude, were to be done with impunity by those whom the Tory Government delights to honour. THE NAMES ARE KNOWN. “ I warn Mr Matthews that if ho does not take action in this matter, there will be a heavy reckoning when Parliament meets. It is full time that the severest examples should bring home to all that there are certain foul crimes (too prevalent of late, by all accounts) that we cannot tolerate amongst us, unless London is to be regarded as the disgrace and opprobrium of modern civilisation.”

The owner and editor of the “Press” is no journalistic novice, but an experienced hand—in fact, Mr E. Parke is the subeditor and moving genius of the “ Star ” newspaper, and it was with full comprehension of the risk he ran and the gravity of the issues at stake that he ventured on giving publicity to his knowledge. The facts reached him in the first instance through a confidential acquaintance, viz., the detective who was engaged in getting up the case, and the names of some thirty persons transpired. On Tuesday a clerk from Lewis and Lewis visited the “ Star ” Office, and informed Mr Parke that Lord 'Euston- intended taking criminal proceedings for libel. He declined to retract the libel, and Messrs Lewis and Lewis’ representative withdrew in dudgeon. On Wednesday the “ Pall Mall Gazette” published the following : Tbe foul scandal which has filled London with purulent gossip since — J - September —to come into court. The facts of the case are simple. In a house of evil fame in Cleve-land-street, off Tottenham Court Rood, last September, the police seized two persons, a man'of forty, named Veck, and a clerk eighteen, named Newlove, who were accused of offences similar to those which led to the Cornwall-French trials in Dublin. Both at the police court and at the Old Bailey the proceedings were smuggled through in secrecy, and all that is known in public is that Veck was sentenced to four months and Newlove to nine months’ imprisonment. “It was put about, however, on what seemed to be good authority, that a number of: letters and cards were found by the police, which they seized, and used in compiling a list of frequenters of the house, the black catalogue containing the names of many persons of good birth, though of indifferent morals. Instead of acting at once on this information the Home Office refused to allow anything to be done until the matter was considered by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister shrank from all responsibility until he consulted his Cabinet. “Meantime,thechief persons accused had disappeared, and malicious gossip declares that the scruples of Ministers were carefully conceived in order to give time to the accused to depart, so as to avoid the exposure which was dreaded. “ At the first meeting of the Cabinet held after the recess warrants were issued against som6 of the accused, but all efforts to ascertain the names of those persons against whom the warrants were issued have hitherto failed.

“ Inquiries of the police (who,it might be thought, should be able to give information) elicit reports more or less misleading, and one of those reports finding its way into print lias led to proceedings which will finally frustrate all the efforts that have been made to hush the matter up. “On Saturday next at 11 o’clock Mr George Lewis, instructed by the Earl of Euston, eldest son of the Duke of Grafton, and heir to the title and estates, will apply for a fiat/ o to take criminal proceedings against Mr Parke, editor of the “ North London Press,” for having stated that the Earl of Euston was mixed up in the Cleve-land-street scandal, and that he had been allowed to leave the country and to defeat the ends of justice. “ There is therefore every probability of the whole noisome matter, with the names of those concerned, being brought into the public courts, and everything turns upon the question of identity. If tried as a case of mistaken identity, then the witnesses called for the defence of Mr Parke will be liable fco examination and cross-examination concerning every person whom they can swear they met at the house in question. “ The prospect is anything but pleasant either for the public or for the parties concerned, but the course .taken by Lord Euston seems to render it inevitable.

“Mr Labouchere in ‘ Truth ’ of to-day says ‘ A nobleman holding a position at Court was implicated by the depositions of the Postal inquiry that had taken piace, and by the telegraph boys; who would have been called as witnesses if the prisoners had not pleaded guilty. He was asked by a high Court official to. explain matters, and at once fled the country. Hamond, the owner of the; house, has also gone abroad. Warrants were subsequently issued against these t\vo men. I am further informed that the house was pot let to Hamond, bub to four gentlemen. The names are known, and are common talk at

every club. It is pretty clear that matters cannot be allowed to rest here. Very possibly many who are suspected are innocent, and in their interest, as well as in the public interest, no effort should be spared to bring home the guilt to those really guilty.’ ”