CABLEGRAMS

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 12 July 1890, Page 4

CABLEGRAMS

WEST END SCANDALS. EDITOR PARKE RELEASED. London, July 7. Mr Ernest Parke, who was sen* terced to twelve months’ imprisonment last December for libelling Lord Euston in connection with the Cleveland-street scandals, has been released. Mr Parke was, our readers may remember, sub editor o'the “ Star/ Mr T. P. O'Connor's paper. Certain detectives called at the “ Star ” Office early in August of last year, and under pledge of secrecy, offered to make certain revelations anent certain personages who were in the habit ol visiting a certain infamous house in Cleveland street. They asked to see Mr O’Connor, but in accordance with the usual procedure of a London newspaper office, were first handed over to the chief sub-editor, Mr Parke. After hearing their story, Mr Parke sent them to Mr O Connor, who, bowever, declined to have anything to do with the case, saying “he did not want to get the paper into the same trouble as the ‘ Pail Mall 1 over that confounded social purity.” Mr Parke was at this time running a small suburban paper on his own account, and being an ardent Socialistic Ridical and fully persuaded of the truth of the detective’s story, he determined to publish the circumstances as related to him in the “ North London Press,” as be had christened his venture. His capital was unfortunately limited. The staff of the new paper was mainly composed of the reporters and assistant sub-editors of the “ Star,” who worked with a will to make their friend’s paper a success. Still more unfortunately, Mr Paike’s time was limited. His hours, as chief sub editor of the “Star,” were nominally from 6.30 a.m. to 6 30 p.m., but he rarely left the cffice befoie half-past seven or eight. It was during office hours and after eight at night that all inquiries had to be instituted. Help poured in from every side. The entire spare lime, not only of Mr Paike himself, but all his friends, was taken up in listening to and sifting the stoiies of people who had incriminating statements against Lord Euston and Lord Somerset to make.

The work on the “ Star ” gave Mr Parke no time to attend personally to details. This ruined him. One of his many friends, a subordinate, wrote a par. in the article which charged Lord Euston with being implicated in the scandal, stating that both Somerset and Biuston had fled the country, their escape being winked at by the authorities. Orders had been given to everyone to be particularly careful to verily every line of copy they sent in, and as the young fellow had always previously been found discreet, the par. went in. It was unhappily incorrect. Lord Somerset had left, but Lord Euston was fuming about London, waiting for a chance to get his foot on the necks of those “ newspaper fellows.” The rest of the story is well known. saw his witnesses disappear before his very eyes. The closest watch was kept on some, but the trial was postponed, and Parke’s money running short, care had to be relaxed, and one by one nearly every one disappeared. At the trial there is no doubt the unfortunate editor might have saved himself had he divulged the names of his informants, but he would not break his word, and took the twelve months’ imprisonment. Why the authorities have seen fit so suddenly to remit six months of the sentence is a mystery; but everyone will rejoice at the turn things have taken, except, perhaps, the noble lord himself. THE AUSTRALIAN . CRICKETERS. London, July 4. In the first innings of the Englishmen Turner took 2 wickets for 26, Ferris 7 for 16, Trumble 1 for 11. The Australians in their second innings knocked up 139, Lyons making 20, Trott 14, Barrett t;o, Gregory 23, and Trumble 12. The Englishmen began their second innings requiring 140 runs to win, but were all disposed of for the poor total of 51, leaving the visitors victorious by 88 runs. The wicket was all in favour of bowlers, and none of the local men reached double figures, though Mr Wright, the Notts amateur, batted throughout the innings for the small score of 7 runs. Eleven extras were scored against the Australians. Turner took 7 wickets for 23, and Ferris 3 for 17. Later. Up to luncheon the Leicestershire team had lost one wicket for ninetytwo runs. FLOODS AND GALES. Adelaide, July 8. Heavy rains and gales have prevailed in South Australia in the last day or two. Houses have been wrecked, and other damage done. Gladstone town is flooded. CHINESE STOWAWAYS. Sydney, July 8. Chinese stowaways continue to arrive and attempt to avoid payment of the poll tax. The Government have decided to have the crews of Chinese vessels photographed before leaving the port.