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"THE CECIL PLOT"

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"THE CECIL PLOT" LIBEL CASE TRIED Astounding Allegation OF A SCANDAL AT HATFIELD Demand for Jury of Matrons. Verdict and Sentence. The oase in wflricih. Matilda Lavinia StB/nlcyj otherwise Sneehaii, is indicted for publishing a. false and defamatory libel of and oan-oern- iJUg Lady Gw-endolen Cecil, sister of the Marquess of Salisbury, came on to-day at the Old Bailey (before the Common Serjeant, Mr. Bosanquet, Q-0.). The court was thronged, amongst those occupying seats b&ing the Rev. Lord W. Cecil, rector of Hat- field, Lord Robert Cecil, K.C., M.P., and Lady Gw?T?dolen, who sat together on the sheriffs' benches. The defendant, on taking her place in the dock, pleaded not guilty, amd put 1n a plea of justification. The Judge ait the outset said that. as defendant was not represented by counsel, he thought it right to point out that, in order to make her defence good, Lt was not (sufficient for her to prove that she believed the matter which she had published to be true, but she would have to prove the facts upon which she had made the imputations against the prosecutrix. The Prisoner: I should not have published the libel, my lord, if I had not been sure. Prisoner's justification was then produced— a large closely written Sheet bearing her signature. Mr. C. F. Gill, K.C. (with whom was Mr. Bodkin), at once opened the case. He at first called attention to the ruling of the Common Serjeant as to what defendant must be in a position to prove in order to substantiate her defence. She would have to show that the statements she had published were for the common benefit. The libels (said counsel) were contained in a pamphlet oaliled The Hatfield Business: or, the Cecil Plot. Extraordinary Revelations. Great is truth, and in the end it will prevail. Price one efhHIing. In that pamphlet the defendant asserted that A Soandal Arose at Hatfield House between Lady Gwendolen Cecil and the then Rev. E. J. Edwards, chaplain of Hat- field House Chapel, about the year 1890. The Jibed set out in the indictment was the follow- tn paragraph, which Mr. Gill read:- In consequence of distinct information I have received, I demand as my right that Lady Gwendolen Cecil shall submit to the examination of a jury of matrons; that she publicly produce her child born in the year 1890, which she has infamously attributed to me, and the names of the doctor and nurse who attended her at the birth of the child, together with the trades- men's bills connected with her illness and stated to be made out in my name, and that she take her trial in the law courts. Mr. Gill read the following extract from the pamphlet:- I found, to my utter astonishment, that after I left Hatfield a foul and baseless slander had been adroitly and designedly fixed to my name for a very apparent reason. Mrs. Stanley continued to say that the cir- culation of the rumours had caused her irreparable injury, and proceeded to deal with the origin of this plot and with all its subsequent developments and complications. She stated that "in the year 1890 this lady gave birth to Sa child, of whom it was alleged that the chaplain was the father. In order to shield themselves the parentage of this child was infamously attributed to me." It was unnecessary, added counsel, to say that these astounding allegations were abso- lutely without foundation. This pamphlet, he continued, was followed by the publica- tion in this year of a leaflet, also printed and published by the prisoner at Gladstone- place, Brighton. It was also entitled "The Hatfield Business, or Cecil Plot," and it con- gained this paragraph:- I regret to learn that one or two points in my published pamphlet axe not quite clear, so in response to innumerable requests I now give the name of the lady for whom I was made the scapegoat—Lady Gwendolen Cecil, whose disgrace and dis- honour has been written upon me for fifteen years, with most disastrous results and at terrible cost to my husband and myself. It had been pointed out to the prisoner over and over again that she must be suffer- ing under delusions in this matter, but she still insisted. Hence the necessity for these proceedings. No woman (continued Mr. Gill) I made these sort of statements suddenly. This was the culmination of a series of wild state.! inents and threats against all sorts of people I extending over a great number of years. From 1889 or 1890 down to the present time she had been complaining of her sufferings, making the most sweeping charges that people were engaged in some diabolical plot against her, that the Post Office officials were parties to it, letters and forged documents being sent in her name. Mrs. Stanley, who was of respect- able parentage, was for many years organist of Hatfield House Chapel, in the employ of the late Marquess of Salisbury. Her father died in 1899, and, being broken down in health, she went to Paris for a rest. As show- ing the condition of her mind, her letters -written while there showed her feelings to be that everybody was hostile to her. From Paris she wrote thanking Lady Gwendolen for many kindnesses. In November, 1900, she wrote asking for a loan of 980. This was (followed by a letter addressed to the late Lord Salisbury, asking him to use his in- fluence with the Duke of Devonshire on behalf of a clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Stanley, with the view to procuring him a living. The next application was for a loan of JB300 for the purpose of starting a school. Subsequently the defendant returned to Hat- field, and was there married to Mr. Stanley. Counsel proceeded to read extracts from the letters whicih the defendant had written from time to time, in which she complained of Her Shattered Condition Mr. Stanley she had become acquainted with a.t Eastbourne, and it was for an appoint- ment for him wt Esseiiden that she asked. It was in 1894 that she first made suggestions of a "plot and conspiracy," and she wrote that her life of persecution, torture, degrsi- da/trton, and all its attendant miseries must cease." She wrote of "the lord otf Hatfield" being responsible for her "losses and personal injuries and outrageotis" in such a way as to le&d to the conclusion that her mind was slightly unhinged. She spoke of Mr. Stanley and herself becoming bankrupt unless she could uadse a loan, and pointed to her twenty yeans' faithful service in a sacred capa-city. Amongst those whom sihe suggested were in league against her was also the name of a clerical dignitary in the South of England. The prisoner and associates distributed leaflets and pamphlets containing definite statements regarding tine prosecutrix. These being brought to the notice of the Cecil family, steps were taken, a warrant issued, and the prisoner arrested at Brighton. At the house where she had been living were found thousands of pamphlets to be sold a.t a shilling, of addenda to be sold at three- pence, and of other printed matter, including copies of "A Letter to the King" I on tho subject. The learned counsel wad. some correspondence to show the ignorajMe and stupidity of the five women who formed the prisoner's "committee," &nd who testified their belief in her bona-frdes. He added that her husband had kept discreetly in the background, but he was somewhere where this printing press was at work. The whole thing was cairried on in the hope that money would be paid to stop it. The learned counsel ooncluded by sta,ting that he might have simply proved publication of the libel and left the defendant to attempt to prove her justification, but he would put Lady Gwen- dolen Cecil in the witness-box, amd she would say that there was not a shadow of founda- tion for the allegation concerning her. Inspector Edward Shaw (Sc-otland Yard) ga,ve evidence of the arrest of the prisoner at Brighton Railway Station on Angtist 14, and the discovery amongst her luggage at her address of a great quantity of the libellous printed matter. After being captioned, the prisoner made a statement: — I have been expecting this for some time, and I am glaxl now it has come. I have been very much persecuted. I am a deeply- wronged woman. I have appealed in a long letter to the King, as well as to the public, for funds for a fair, equal, open trial in the law courts, and mean to fight to the bitter end, not only for my own sake, but for everyone concerned, as I regard it as a representative case, and one seriously threatening and involving the rights and liberties of the people. -6he afterwards added that ebe had bep persecuted for twelve years, and nothing had been done, while Lady Gwendolen Cecil had only been attacked eight days and she was arrested. George Keith, a private inquiry agent, gave evidence of the prisoner and her committee making calls at newspaper offices, and after- wards driving about London and distributing the libels. I LADY GWENDOLEN IN THE BOX Lady Gwendolen Cecil was then called. She had been sitting with her brother, Lord Robert Cecil, in the court during counsel's opening statement, and nearly fell over a hidden step as she made her way across to the witness-box. She was perfectly self- possessed, spoke witth a strong, clear voice, but naturally little relished the necessity of appearing íill this scene. Replying to her counsel, she said she was the daughter of the late and sister of the present Marquess of Salisbury. She knew the defendant as a member of the Sheehaai family, who bad lived at Hatfield, and been irn the employ- ment of her grandfather and father, and been pensioned by her father. The defendant was a member of a large family, and was employed as organist until 1889, when she left. Have you had any oommnnioalttan with her for years past?—None whatever. Was a commu:nioatioTL made to you by one of your brothers in August?—Yes. Were you subsequently shown this printed pamphlet, called "Addenda" ?—Yes. You are the Lady Gwendolen Cecil referred to there?—Yes. Now, I formally ask you the question is there any foundation for what is imputed to you there?—None whatever. The Common Sergeant (to the defendant): Do you ask this witness any question? The Defendant: Do you remember the Rev. G. G. Edwards? Lady Gwendolen Cecil: Yes. Who was he?—Chaplain to my father at Hatfield House. Were you not on terms of extreme intimacy with the Rev. Mr. Edwards?—No, I knew him as I knew all the other gentlemen who served my father in the same way. Do you remember warrants being out for his arrest?—I knew nothing about it. Do you deny that you have ever had a child?—Absolutely. Do you deny having had a child in 1890?— Certainly. Did you know a person called Mrs. Beere? —I knew a Mrs. Beere. Did you or your family not offer Mrs. Beere A Thousand Pounds to Settle I this disgraceful affair —I never heard any- thing about it. Do you know thatt a. proposal was made that my husfband Should have a living of £ 700 a year and promotion in the Church, 8I,n!t I an annuity of £ 300 as compensation for the deadly wrong done to me afex miany years of long service at your beck and call, never free a day?—Never, I never heard any- thing about it. Daiendant, in continued cross-examination, asked if Lady Gwendolen biad not had a child and had had the bills connected with the birth made out in her name. The Judge repeated the question. Witness: No. Defendant: Are you not aware that my hustond has not been allowed to work, and th ait I am a, scapegoat for him ? Witness: No. Farther questioned, Lady G'wendolenii said that ehe had heard thait defendant was asking her family for money. Defendant: Oh, no, my lad, not for money, only for comipefnsatiom, for a deadly wrong. I have appealed constantly for justice aiga.i'nsft the a.cousaltion of scandal a,nd libdl against me in connection with Mr. Edwards instead of Lady G-wendolcn. Defendant added she had no further guestione to ask now, as Lady Gwendolen had denied the birth of her child, but she would ask for an examination by A JURY OF MATRONS. t The Common-Sergeant: You cannot asu that. No jury of matrons can be empanelled for that purpose. Defendant: She confessed her guilt to Mirs. Beer, a member of the Saseoon family. The Judge: You can call your witnesses when the time comes. Mr. R. Thompson Dunton, priva-te secre- tary to the late Lord Salisbury, put in private letters received from time to time from the defendant. He remembered the defendant leaving the service of the Hatfield family in 1889 because SeT health not being good and her substi- tutes not being satisfactory, Lord Salisbury thought a change necessary. He knew there were warrants out for the arrest of the Rey. Mr. Edwards, but knew nothing about hds being allowed to escape. Witness also described an interview at Arlington-street, wfhiclh the late Lady 8alislbury brought about with the view to provide for Miss elieehan's future. This was the case for the prosecution. The defendant, addressing the jury, asked tTnat all the pamphlets should be put in, including tJhe letter to his Majesty the King." This having be-en done, defendant addressed the jury. I desire, she began, to record my abso- lute beilief in the truth of every word I have published. For some fourteen ydare, said defendant, She had been the victim of a loathsome libel and oonspirwy, and she had taken the course ghe had adopted because of the MARTYRDOM AND CRUCIFIXION I of her husband. She had been accused of blackmailing—anything to save the exposure of a guilty woman. It was in 1892 that she heard the terrible accusation that she amd not Lady Gwendolen was the mother of an illegitimate child. An attempt was made to connect her name with that of the clergyman Edwards, but she had never been alone with him in her life. It was MTs. Beer who con- fessed to Lady Gwendolen's guilt, and through her that the defend,ant was offered jSl,000 a year—not a very large sum considering that she was a pupil of Sir John Stainer and did mainly musical examination work-but she refused to live a lie. Defendant went Into certain particulars connected with her hus- band's position, and to certain correspondence with the Archdeacon of Esseb .and with the bishop of the diocese. i I u Verdict and Sentence, I aiirs. fc^awiey was found guilty, and sen-I I tenced to six months, imprisonment.

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