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LIBELING MRS. ASQUITH

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LIBELING MRS. ASQUITH LOMDON NEWSPAPER'S UNFOUNDED STATEMENTS. 111 the Chancery Division on Tuesday, Mr. Justice Peterson had before him a motion by Mrs. Asquith against the pro- prietors of the" Globe" newspaper to reslraim the publication of alleged libel- lous statements. Mr. Duke, K.C., and Mr. MoGardia appeared for Mrs. Asquith, and Mr. Gordon Hewart, K.C.. and Mr. Alex- ander Neilson for the defendant. Mrs. Asquith, with her daughter, was in court beside her solicitor, the Hon. Charles Russell. Mr. Duke said since the beginning of the year there had been a persistent cir- culation of reports attributing to Mrs. Asquith disloyalty to the national cause— disloyal and, indeed, heartless association with enemy prisoners, and a want of de- cent feeling which might be expected to animate any English woman, whether the wife of the Prime Minister or any other pewen. These rumours found expression in a newspaper called the London Mail in the spring. That was a publication which published a paragraph Mrs. Asquith at Donnington Hall. Can it be proved? I have heard it from several sources that Mrs. Asquith has recently been playing tennis with German officers at Donnington Hall. Several of them were also, I believe, former acquaintances of Mrs. Asquith. But it will not add to her popularity." There was not a shadow of truth, said Mr. Duke, in a statement of that kind. Mrs. Asquith had. in fact, never been to Donnington Hall. She had never seen Donnington Hall, nor had she ever had any communication with any of the in- mates. An apology was offered by the London Mail," who also paid Æl00 to an institution. Subsequently an anonymous letter, signed Patriot," appeared in the "Globe," saying:- I was told by a very reliable friend that we have a Cabinet Minister's wife sending a large and choice selection of comestibles from a well-known firm in Piccadily to interned German officers in Doncingtou Hall. Is this fair and just when our in- ierned ofifcers in Germany are suffering so terribly? Is not this misplaced charity? Mr. Duke contended that in conjunction, with what had already occurred there could be no doubt that this was intended to apply to Mrs. Asquith. Presents for the Huns" the letter was headed. Mr. Duke then quoted a series of letters which subsequently appeared in the Globe." signed Disgusted English- man," Indignant," and others signed with the names of the writers, in which the attitude of the Cabinet Minister's wife was denounced. Amongst the ex- pressions used in these letters were, "She is a disgrace to England." We now know why so many Boches are allowed to be at large, Truly the country is in the hands of Bosches," "We do not want traitors in our innermost councils," 'Patriot's' letter makes my blood boil," "It is amazing that people are so de- based as to pajnper Hunnish swine." There was no doubt that the people who wrote the letters were of the opinion that they referred to Mrs. Asquith, owing to what had gone before. The idea that they could be attributed to Mrs. Asquith or the wife of any other Cabinet Minister was absolutely untrue and without the slightest foundation. It was not only a most outrageohs attack on an English woman, but it was a matter of most serious public gravity. It was designed to strike at the confidence of the country in the present Government and to inspire in the minds of those outside the coun- try who read publications of this kind the opinion that the efforts of our enemy might hope to prevail. It was, therefore, not only a personal outrage, but a grievous public wrong and mischief. The whole business had been a long aeries of malevolent fabrications. Counsel then read an affidavit from Mrs. Asquith, in which she stated that she 'had never been at Donington House in her life, and that there was not the slightest ground for the suggestions, and that she had never supplied anything to tli- inmates. She had no doubt that the libel referred to her. and she had been spoken to on the subject by many of her friends. She had also received grossly abusive end insulting communications of an anonymous character relating to the allegations. Mr. Duke net read affidavits from Sir Robert Hudson, the Duke of Rutland Mr. Arthur Stanley, M.P., and othersex-i pressing the opinion that they believedl the references to a Cabinet Ministers, wife to be directed at Mrs. Asquith. An affidavit, proceeded c 0 ?d ??l' had been made by Mr. Edward a ?t r. manager of the Globe." In it he stated that he alone was responsible for publica- tion. of the letters, but he denied that they referred to Mrs. Asquith; in fact, he did not know now who was aimed at in the letter signed Patriot." He had never heard of the publication which had previously been made of allegations against Mis. Asquith, and "had never rt-ad the "London Mail." Mr. Foster also contended that the paper took no responsibility for the opinion of corre- i! gpondents. There is," proceeded Mr. Duke. U a criminal irresponsibility, and this gentle- j man may learn some day that there is I also criminal responsibility. If anything could aggravate the grave course of abuse and insult to which the wife of the Prime M inisfcer has been subjected, it is that there should be anybody who could say to a Court of Justice, as Mr. Foster had, 'I take no responsibility; I have done it, and that is all I know about it/ Such an affidavit insults the plaintiff and insults the Court. It is an insolent declaration. What aa expression of regret from such a person in such circumstances would be worth, those who are engaged in the case are well qualified to judge." He concluded by asking for an injunc- tion. Mr. Gordon Hewart said the defendants desired to tender to plaintiff their very sincere and unqualified regret. Hie learned friend 'had spoken with extreme severity, and he (Mr. Hewart) was not going to condemn those expressions. Mr. Foster now recognised that what he had stated in his affidavit did not constitute a defence. The defendants realised now that the test was not what was intended in the opinion of the writers, but what was the reasonable meaning to be as- signed to the words employed. They were not permitted to take shelter behind the letters, and the astonishing thing was they should ever have found thedr way onto this newspaper. He desirect to say that it was well-known that the "Globe" !had just passed through a critical period, and that there had been some internal dislocation. He was sorry to hear Mr. Duke swy the affidavit was an insult to the coait. He again expressed his sincere and unqualified regret for the publica- tion of the letters, and defendants wou.ld suSwoit to any injunction which, the court might think proper. The Judge said lie thought Mr. Gordon Hewart had taken the only course pos- sible. "These libels," he added, "are serious and gross libel*. and libels for wisich a6 is now admitted, there is abso- lutely no foundation whatever. There is in my minfl not a shadow of doubt that tlt-e libels were in fact directed at Mrs. Asquith. And I grant an injune-Lon against the defendants in any way writing or publishing that the plaintiff has been, or is, sending food or other things to the German officers, or from writing or ptablisfcing any similar de- famatory statements." Mrs- Asquith then kit tbe court with hor solicited*

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