THE WEST END SCANDALS

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 437, 15 January 1890, Page 3

THE WEST END SCANDALS

PROCEEDINGS AT THE POLICE COURT. LORD EUSTON EXAMINED. (FROM 0 VR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, November 29. Mr Ernest Parke, theeditor of the “North London Press” and subeditor of the “Star,” appeared at Bow-street on Monday last to justify having publicly charged the Earl of Euston with an unspeakable offence. Lord Eu9ton, who is a tall, military-look-ing man with a fine blonde moustache, was represented by the famous Mr Geo. Lewis, and various other solicitors “ watched the case” in the interests of persons whose names did not transpire. A Treasury solicitor’s appearance on behalf, it was understood, of the exalted and illustrious young man referred to in the “Press article as involved in thescundals, naturally excited special attention. Mr Parke was represented by Mr Lockwood, Q.C., M.P., and Mr Asquith, M.P. In appearance the defendant is a young man of middle height, with curly brindled hair, blue eyes, a keen intelligent expression, and a particularly pleasant kindly smile, which lights up a usually rather grave face. Mr Parke, though nominally only the sub editor of the “ Star,” has practically from the first been its backbone. Hia average hours of work are from 5.30 in the morning to 6.30 in the evening, and what induced him to add to these sufficiently heavy ordinary avocations the supervision of a small Radical weekly like the “ North London Press ” no one can imagine. Parke’s excellent judgment in press matters is notorious. During the Whitechapel murder scares, the “ Star ” was the one evening paper in London never led astray. The sub editor seemed intuitively to grasp which statements to.accept and which to reject. When verification was possible he always insisted on it, even though the “ Star ” might be anticipated an edition. This policy laid the foundation of the paper’s immense circulation in the poorer districts of London, where coppers are coppers, and to ks cannot afford to be “done,” oven in the matter of a half penny paper. Now, when the newspaper boys are calling out, “ Another Great Murder,” or “Capture of Jack the Ripper,” your East-ender refuses the “ Echo ” and “ Evening News ” with “ Nay, lad ; we’ll wait see what ‘ Star’ bill says.” Parke’s reputation being what it was, you can easily imagine the sensation his publication of the names of Lord Euston and Lord H. A. Somerset in connection with the Cleveland - street scandals caused amongst pressmen. None of us for the moment doubted the accuracy of the facts, nor was it till the prima Jade statement anent Lord Euston’s having left the country was discovered to be ridiculously incor rect that the possibility of any gross error crossed our minds. As a matter of fact, I believe the earl has been in town most of October, and, moreover, walking about telling everyone he only wished some paper would publish what the man in the street was saying, and enable him to silence and punish his libellers. The proceedings on Monday were purely format, and resulted in a remand till Tuesday afternoon, when Mr Geo. Lewis promised to put the Earl of Euston in the witness box. On Tuesday this pledgo was kept, and the noble earl (judiciously led by Mr Geo. Lewis) told a most extraordinary story. He first of all denied having been out of the country since he returned from Australia in 1881. Counsel then asked Will you state to the Court what you know with reference to this house in Cleveland-street-?—All I know is, I was walking one night in Piccadilly The Magistrate : How long ago ?—I cannot say the date. It was either the end or May or beginning of June. A card was put into my hand, which, on reading afterwards, I found was headed “ Poses Plastiques.”— Hammond, 19. Cleveland-street-.” I do not remember whether Tottenham Court Road was on it. About a week afterwards I went there. It was between halfpast ten and eleven at night. Mr Lewis : Was the door opened to you by a man ’—Yes. He asked me to come in, and then asked me for a sovereign. I gave it to him. I then asked him when the poses plastiques were going to take place. He Baid, “ There is nothing of that sort here. If you want ” Mr Lockwood : I object to my friend going into this conversation. It is not alleged to have taken place in the presence of Mr Parke, accused of this libel. Mr Lewis : The libel alleges that the witness was mixed up with crimes committed at Cleveland-street. Mr Lockwood : I have no objection to my friend saying what Lord Euston “ did ” at Cleveland-street. (Laughter.) The magistrate upheld the objection of counsel. Mr Lewis : That being so (to witness): The man said something to you ? —Yes. Did you then express anger ? Mr Lockwood again objected. As to anything which this gentleman did, my friend is entitled to ask, but not upon anything which lie said. Mr Lewis (to the witness) : Did you instantly leave the house ?—I did. How long were you in the house?-Con-siderably under five minutes. Two or three minutes ?-Y T es. Have you been there since ?—No. Not previously to that occasion ?—No. Have you any knowledge of any sort or kind, other than that one visit, concerning the house ? —No. You came here prepared to state what did pass ? —Yes. Mr Lockwood : I may say at once I do not propose to enter into any detailed cross-examination of this witness, for masmuch as I recognise the fact that it will be your duty to send this case for trial, the wish of my client is to appear as soon as possible before the tribunal which should have to try this case. I have one or two questions now to put. Were you in the army, Lord Euston ? Yes.

In what regiment?—The Rifle Brigade. You are not in it now ?—No. When were you gazetted out? July, 1871, I think. You were afterwards in a Yoemanry regiment ?—A volunteer regiment. Are you in it now ?—I am ; it is the Ist Volunteer Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. .... You told my learned friend that you at once gave instructions for a prosecution for libel?—ldid. _ A When was this newspaper first brought to your attention ?—Yesterday week. I drove straight to Mr Lewis’ office, and placed the matter in his hands. When did you first make the statement which you have made to-day ? I made it some time ago to some friends of mine. When first, is my question ? —About the middle of October. . This, thing happened in the month of June ?—Yes- : .. ■ ;!

• Your first statement in regard to it was made in the month of October? —Yes. Did you make a statement at the Home Office about it ?—No. At the Treasury?—No. You have made no statement to any official either at the Treasury or the Home Office ? —I have made no communication of any sort or kind to any official either at the Treasury or the Home Office. That I swear. I take it that your first statement in October was made to some private friend ? —Yes. Is Lord Arthur Somerset a friend of yours?—l knew him. When did you see him last? —Last summer ; some time during the season. I saw him several times in society. I kept meeting him constantly. Have you not seen him since ?—No. Do you know where he is ? —No. Now, in regard to this occurrence in May or June, you say you afterwards read the card?—Yes. How long afterwards ? —When I got home ; when I took my coat off. I don’t remember particularly. I did not read it in the street. I shoved it in my pocket, and when I goo home I took it out to see what it was. Just tell me what it was. Was it a printed card ?—lt was. It was not in writing ?—lt was a lithographed card, and at the top the words “ poses plastiques ” were in writing. Was the gentleman giving the cards out to everybody in Piccadilly, or were you specially favoured? I was walking along, and he shoved one into my hand. Did ho appear to be shoving them into the hands of people promiscuously or to selected persons? —I really did not notice. He shoved it into my hand. I was not walking slowly at the time. I don’t walk slow as a rule. Indeed. What time was it? I was walking home about eleven or twelve. _ You had not time to stop and read it ? Witness' (smiling): I did not think of it. I don’t know what you are laughing at. Then you got home and read it. How long elapsed after you had read the card before you went to the house to see whether the promises of the card were to be carried out ?—At least a week. So, of course, you kept the card during that time ?—Yes, I did. Then you went to this house about the beginning of July ?—No ; about the second week in June, or thereabouts. What time did you go?—Between halfpast ten and eleven at night. You went alone? —¥es.

Did you take the card with you?—Yes. Did you bring the card back with you? — I brought it home. That is bringing it back with you. (A laugh.) What has become of it?—l destroyed if. I was disgusted at being found in such a place, and so I did not want to have anything more to do with it. Oh! I see. Y r ou destroyed the card. Did you burn it or tear it up?—l probably tore it up. I had no fire. You probably tore it up in disgust and indignation?—Yes ; I was very angry with myself at being caught in such a place. Lord Euston, from what passed in the house you had no doubt in your own mind what the character of that house was ? Not the smallest.

Mr Lewis, in re-examination : You have been asked what passed in the house, and had you anv doubt as to the character ot the house. " What did pass? What did the man say to you ?—After I had given him the sovereign I asked when the poses plasitques commenced, and he said, “There is nothing of that kind here,” and added something more. Did you at once leave the house ?—I did. Up to the moment when he made that statement to you had you any knowledge of the house other than what appeared on the card? —None whatever. The Magistrate : Nor any suspicion ? No. Mr Lewis: You had never been there before ?—No. You had never heard of the house before? —No, not fiom anybody. You were asked whether you ever mentioned this matter before October. Was it not until October that some public mention was made of this case or thereabouts ? —I believe thereabouts.

Since you have heard o f it Mr Lockwood : I object to my learned friend asking what the witness had heard, j The Magistrate : How came you to make a statement in October ?—Because there was some rumour about, so I went to consult my friends about it. Mr Lewis: About this house, and not about yourself ?—About myself. Then you made the statement to several friends? —I did. Is what vou have told us the entire a.nd absolute truth in connection with your knowledge of this house ?—Yes. Mr Lewis : I will put in the formal order oi Mr Justice Field for this prosecution. Mr Lockwood (re-examining): I want to ask you about the house. Do I understand you to say that you went into a room at the house ?—Yes ; into a sorb of sitting-room on the ground floor, on the right. Did the same man who opened the door go into the room with you ? —Yes ; I saw nobody else. I showed him the card, and said, “ This is what brought me here.” He said, “ There is nothing of that sort here.” . Did it ever occur to you to give mtormabion to the police ?—No, it did not; In fact, I did not want to be mixed up with it. I was disgusted, and I did not want to have anything more to do with it. Have you seen the man since ?—No. You remember that some persons were prosecuted at the Central Criminal Court in connection with this house ?—I heard of it. The prisoners were before the magistrates on many occasions ?—I think I heard of it then. I was nob at the time in London. It struck you at once that this was the house which you visited ? —I thought it must be. Did you bake any step to see whether this man who interviewed you was the man who was being prosecuted at the Old Bailey?—No; I did not want to be mixed up with anything of the sort. Mr Lewis: And you would have taken no step whatever except for the publication of this libel ? -None whatever.

Had anybody made any accusation against Until the publication of the libel? —Jsone. You were asked whether you had given information to the Home Office, Treasury, or police, and you said:* No. Had you been asked for information you would have been prepared MrLockweod : I object. Mr Lewis : Did they ever apply to you. The Magistrate ruled that'the question could not be put. Mr Lewis : Those are the facts of the case for the prosecution. The magistrate cautioned the defendant, and askedliim if be had anything to say in answer to the charge. Mr Lockwood : I appear, with my learned friend Mr Asquith, on behalf of the defendant, Mr Parke, and, as I stated to you, wo shall take no course which will tend to delay this case cpming ; before the tribunal which, of course,, we. feel must; ultimately decide it. . -» i ' - -v : ;;

The Magistrate : I take it that the defendant has nothing to say. Mr Lockwood : I don’t suppose he wishes to make any statement The Magistrate : It is not necessary for you to make any statement of what you propose to do. The Defendant: I reserve my defence. The Magistrate : 1 commit you to take your trial at the next session of the Central Criminal Court. t Mr Lockwood, on the question of bail, mentioned that when notice was given to the defendant that an application would be made to a judge sitting in chambers to grant leave to file a criminal information, Mr Parke attended, and also his solicitor. Later in the afternoon application was made to the magistrate for a warrant. There was not a tittle of ground for supposing that the defendant would not surrender, to take his trial. The warrant was applied for late in the afternoon, and the result was that no opportunity was afforded to Mr Parke of being bailed out, and he was kept in custody until Monday morning. He hoped the fact would be taken into consideration that from the first the defendant had shown anxiety to meet this charge, and had not shown the slightest indication of shrinking from meeting it. The Magistrate : In my opinion this is a case of very great gravity, and I ought to require such bail as shall certainly secure the attendance of the defendant at the trial which takes place next month. I shall require two sureties in £250 each. The sureties being forthcoming, the defendant left the Court, which during the proceedings had been densely crowded.