Clement Scott

A pseudonym used by W.H. Paling & Co. in Sydney, Australia. In a lawsuit litigated in 1952, Olive Saunders, widow of Albert Saunders (1880–1946), claimed Albert was the composer of the "Swiss Cradle Song," which had been printed under the name Clement Scott. The company acknowledged the publication of some of Saunders' works under the name Clement Scott, but also contended Saunders was not the only composer behind the name, which they said was a "house name." Paling put forward Cecil Spencer Darling, who said he wrote that piece with Bert Rachke. Mrs. Saunders presented Aubrey Sherwell Spencer, who said he helped Saunders notate the piece in 1910. The judge ultimately ruled against the widow for lack of convincing evidence. For more, see "Saga of song in court claim," The Sun (Sydney), 2 June 1952, p. 2, "A widow loses claim she makes respecting song," The Evening Advocate (Sydney), 24 July 1952, p. 4, and other newspaper reports from that period. —Chris Fenner