THE BILLING CASE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1918, Page 5

THE BILLING CASE

CONSPIRACY, FURTHER SCENES m-OQUBO^ , s , ' V - ' Australian-N'.Z. Cable Asioci£tJs^| Beceived June 2, 6.5 pjnij » ;j London, May 9f.t In the Billing case, hundreds waiwitU "i able to gain admission, << Speneer, sharply cross-examined, j&- ■ , tailed the alleged pro-German plot)! of which Mrs. George Keppel was al jSttii' ' inent member. Mrs. Keppel w*flt ta Holland and conferred yith Knhlmann, The object of the plot was to bring Jks« quith, Caillaux and Giolitti back to poWi er. * Justice Barling intimated that Wtb. Keppel would give evidence latec—-Eresi ' Association. "

Received June 2, 11 p.m. London, June J. Mrs. Keppel's counsel stated that she : wished to swear she had not been in Holland since the war, nor had shebeen Kulilmaiui. Judge Darling sympathised, fcut te< gretted he was unable to allow lwr*to give evidence. Lord Alfred Douglas gave evidence that : "Salome" was an immoral and disgusting play, and would be the greatest wil ,>' force in Europe during the past three centuries. A request by the prosecution for the' production of letters between Wilde And •- witness, exchanged in 1893, led to violent scenes between the witness, tin judge and Billing. Witness shouted i "Shame! This muck is raked up CTery time I come into court." He threatened ; i to tear up the letter if shown him foi ■ identification. The handwriting was finally while the usher wa» holding lie latter two yards away. Father Bernard Vaughan gave • that the character of "Salome" could not,, be acted by a pure woman,.but ontobv J a moral pervert. .': Several medical witnesses.and drama* ' tic critics gave evidence that the play was immoraL The case-was'-adioßdlKL —Press Association. .'t