"Damnable Shame!"

The Lord Justice of Appeal, Sir John Eldon Bankes, presided last week over an Extraordinary Tribunal appointed by joint action of both Houses of Parliament to enquire into the circumstances of an examination by police officers at New Scotland Yard of a young woman, aged 22, who is by profession a tester of radio tubes. The motion defining the scope of the Tribunal was drafted jointly by the Attorney General, Sir Thomas Inskip, the Home Secretary, Sir William Joynson-Hicks and Sir John Simon, highest feed British barrister and august Chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission (TIME, Jan. 30). As the Tribunal sat, last week, the small gallery was crammed with smartest folk, including Margot, famed Countess of Oxford and Asquith. In the House of Commons Right Honorable Members repeatedly referred to the actions of the Scotland Yard Police as constituting a "Shame! (Hear! Hear!)" and a "DAMNABLE SHAME! (Cheers!)."

In a word the police were suspected with good reason of having subjected the 22-year old bulb tester to a scandalous third degree. She, Miss Irene Savage, a cheerful, comely girl, was recently arrested and acquitted of the charge of "indecent conduct" in Hyde Park with Sir Leo Chiozza Money, 58, onetime Parliamentary Secretary to.David Lloyd George. In dismissing the case the judge severely rebuked the constables concerned and fined them jointly -L-10 ($48). The astounding and scandalous aftermath came a fortnight later when Miss Savage was called upon at her place of work by Inspector Clark and Policewoman Wilde who imperatively insisted that she accompany them to New Scotland Yard for further questioning with regard to the charge of which she had been acquitted.

In this connection Sir Leo Chiozza Money sent a most significant open letter to the press last week: "I myself was asked to go to Scotland Yard in the same way. I escaped Miss Savage's unpleasant experience because I happen to know, as few people do, that the police powers are not all that they pretend to be. My solicitor informed the Scotland Yard authorities that I was perfectly willing to answer any questions they put to me at his office in front of him, but that I would not go to Scotland Yard. This offer was not accepted."

Miss Savage, frightened, ignorant of her rights, went with the police. What happened was elicited, last week, before the Extraordinary Tribunal, while the Lord Justice of Appeal listened in his great sweltering wig and the Countess of Oxford and Asquith cocked an ear. Chief points:

The period of Miss Savage's examination was 5 1/2 hours. No policewoman was present. She was alone with Inspector Collins and a male shorthand stenographer. She was told that "there's a lot more we want to know about this case," and that the constables who were fined for falsely arresting her "are respectable men with good police records and besides their wives have got to be considered." Inspector

Collins showed a tendency to shout, "We know that already!" and "Don't lie to us!" whenever Miss Savage answered his questions. After some hours of this tea was served. Ensuing dialogue:

Inspector Collins (noting that there is only one spoon): "Irene'll spoon with me, won't you, Irene?"

Miss Savage (tired): "No."

I. C. (drawing up his chair): "So you never cuddled with Sir Leo in the park? Stand up there! Let's see how long your dress is!"

S.: "I will stand up if it is necessary" (stands).

I. C.: "What color petticoat you got on? Tell us what you were wearing that night in the park. . . . You're really a good girl and you've never had a man, have you? ... But there are several things one can do without really sinning. Don't be afraid to tell us ... (drawing his chair closer and putting an arm around the back of hers). . . . Come on! Give us a demonstration of what happened in Hyde Park . . . (laying a hand on her knee). . . . When we were young we had a good time ourselves. We're only making these inquiries for the sake of the police officers whose conduct is being inquired into. . . . Come on!"

Miss S. (after breaking down in hysterics and being allowed to go home where she encountered her father): "Oh why, why did they pick on me!"

Representing New Scotland Yard before the Extraordinary Tribunal, last week, was Mr. Norman Birkett, one of the highest feed and keenest criminal lawyers in Great Britain. He managed to elicit from Miss Savage the admission that her fiance had never opposed her occasional dinings out with Sir Leo Chiozza Money, and that on the original occasion in Hyde Park, Sir Leo had kissed her: "It was just a peck. Not a passionate kiss." Pressed to justify her dinners with Sir Leo, she said, squaring small shoulders, "I am a very free and independent young woman."

The investigation continued, while onetime Prime Minister James Ramsay Mac-Donald, Leader of the Labor Party, interested himself in the cause with a view to making it the point d'appui for a major Parliamentary attack on the Conservative Government of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin which directly controls Scotland Yard through the Home Office.