The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-03-11 00:00:00

TUE WILTSHIRE LIBEL CASE

Coleridge
PljusueeewzDii.Devia:htur.n,
ATtiorimew.l.ah.dr,:joerniotzeLorsii:
John Bother, Q)—with him Mr. Collins, QC., and itr.
Pitt-Levis,--said he was now Instructed to move on behalf
of the defendant for • rule calling upon the obuntiff why
the Judgment entered in his favour should not be et
aside and • new trial granted on the ground that the
verdict was against the vreinlit of the evidence. The
tienviitg we the Rev. W. Chamberlain*, vicar of
in Wiltiohire, and the defendant was the gee.
h. d ans wed, or Melitshaoi, but having 00 cure of minis.
For several years past the pieties had been intonate with
each other, and their f•mi.llee had been on friendly Dorm
Some bine prior to July, len,
_there had been serious
nunours eke& in the nemhbourbood with regard to the
condect of the plaintiff, the rumours being to the ellitA
that he had been guilty of very disgraceful cnnduct
indeed. that he had been leading • life of depravity and
made overtures to women and girls. It was said that he
had been constantly pursuing a girl named Orchard,
who w.is !tithing mare nor less than his mistress; and
it was also alleged that lie ha I been guilty of even
greaser misconduct, having perpetrated acta of the
mod abominable indecency towards boys and ser-
vants. The rumours were rite for a considerable period,
and Colonel Wallington, • magistrate in the locality,
together with his father, Mr. Wallington, a gentleman
of position, and several other persons, were so horritied
at them that they set to work in order to discover
whether there was any truth in them. They got a certain
amount of evidence together, and apparently laid the
matter before the Bishop; but hoc wine reason or
other which he did not understand the Bishop did not
choose to interfere. There was sufficient testimony to
show that affairs in Kesel' were in • most disgraceful
condition. It was broadly stated that the vicar was
guilty of conduct which he had but faintly described, and
those who were interested In the church were anxious to
get rid of such • scandal. Defendant, who sifted the
evidence for himself, end then made up his mind to
endeavour to induce the plaintiff to resign his living,
when there would be an end of the scandal. According
to the defendant's evidence, the plaintiff appeared quite
willing to accept the advice and act upon it
In his evidence before the examiner he undoubtedly did
deny the truth of the eta sweat& He did not however,
give his evidence before the examiner in • candid manner.
It wee with difficulty that anything could be got out of
him, but he said that he agreed to go away from Beevil,
not bemuse he was willing to act on the defendant's
advice, but bemuse he wee out of health. To make
matters worse he anally swore that he went away bonne
he required recreation. He admitted that be thanked
defendant warmly and earnestly for the part he had
taken. Two days afterwards be left the vicarage and
proceeded to Weymouth, where he stopped for a. °wider.
able time. In September L mat Chatieberlaine went down
to Weymouth and saw his father, who then gave him •
rather curious document, in which he solemnly declared
that he was innocent of the crimual offence charged
against bin, and that he had never acknowledged his guilt
to any one. It came to Kr. Barneweil's ears that the
plaintiff did not intend to resign his living, but thought
of coming back to the vicarage. He thereupon wrote to
the pin ntiff • letter, which during the trial wee called
" the ultimatum."

The plaintiff ultimatey placed himself in the hands of
• solicitor, at Makshant, and in the result three actions
were bronchi for libel against the defendant and Colonel
and Mr. WalliniMn. Tha came was ripe for trial in May
last. At that Sinus it was intended that the plaintiff
should be examined as a witness in court. He, however,
ill-health, and eventually he gave his evidence
pleaded an examiner. At the trial, he (the Attorney-General)
protested against the evidence thus given being put in,
but antral medical men said that it would be dangerous
for him to appear in the witnees-box.

Lord Colaridge and he had consulted the Lord Chief
.justion and, wddsout sugpsting that his lordahlp was
dissatisfied with the result of the act:on, he and his brother
Denman considered that the cause was oas for further
1 investigation, and that • rule anf should be granted for
a new trial.