The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-12-04 00:00:00

THE COLIN CAMPBELL DIVORCE
SUITS.

REVOLTING REVELATIONS.

In the Probate awl Divorce Division of the
High Court of Justice on Friday, the proceedings
in the case of Campbell v. Campbell and
Campbell v. Campbell, the Duke of Marlborough,
Captain Shaw, Colonel Butler, and Dr. Bird, com-
menced before Mr. Justice Butt and a special jury.
The following statement showed how the case stood
at the commencement: Two years ago, in March,
1884, Lady Colin Campbell sought a divorce from
her husband, Lord Colin Campbell, and the suit was
tried in canterd before a special jury, who in the
result returned a verdict the effect of which was that
the petitioner was granted a decree of judicial separa-
tion on the ground of her husband's cruelty. Further
legal proceedings were instituted by Lord Colin Camp-
bell, ad inquiries were afterwards made by both sides,
which resulted in Lord Colin Campbell presenting a peti-
tion praying for the dissolution of his marriage, which
took place on the 21st of July, 1881, on the ground
of the adultery of Lady Colin Campbell with the co-
respondents--allegations which they all deny; and
Lady Campbell, on hes part, filed a further petition,
in which she too prayed to have the marriage dis-
solved, on the ground of misconduct on the part of
Lord Colin Campbell with Mary Watson, which he
denied. These two suits have been consolidated by
order of the court.

Lord Colin Campbell is the fifth son of his Grace
Duke of Argyll, an officer in the Argyllshire Volun-
teers, and barrister-at-law, and Lady Gertrude
Elizabeth Campbell is the youngest daughter of
Edmond-Maghlin Blood, Esq., of Birckhill, county
Clare.

Mr. Finlay, Q.C., Mr. Lockwood, Q.C. and Mr.
Searle appeared for Lord Colin Campbell; Sir C.
Russell, Q.C., Mr. Inderwick, Q.C. Mr. C. Mathews,
and Mr. McPherson for Lady Colin Campbell; the
Attorney-General (Sir R. Webster) and Mr. Lewis
Coward for the Duke of Marlborough; the Solicitor-
General (Sir E. Clarke) and Mr. Synnott for Dr.
Bird; Mr. Murphy, Q.C., and Mr. Terrell for Colonel
Butler; and Mr. Gully, Q.C., and Mr. Strong for
Captain Shaw.
A discussion took place between counsel as to which
case should be heard first. His lordship decided that
first, crime first served, and tLerefore Lady Col
Campbell's petition should be heard first.
Sir Charles Russell then opened the case on behalf
of Lady Colin Campbell. He observed that he would
make no comment on the preliminary discussion
which had taken place between himself and his
learned friends as to who had the right to begin in the
case beyond saying that the jury would probably
before this case had proceeded very far be able to
realise the reason why the other side wished that their
case should be opened first. He bad to open to them
a remarkable and a painful ease. The petitioner in
the first suit was Lady Colin Campbell, now
judicially separated from Lord Campbell, and she
was the respondent in the second suit, the two being
consolidated. Lady Colin Campbell was the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Blood, a family of respectabilityand good
position. Lord Colin was one of several sons of the
Duke of Argyll, and it appeared that in September,
1880, Lady Colin, who was then Miss Blood, was
staying with some friends in Scotland, not far from
the seat of the Duke of Argyll. On that occasion
Miss Blood met Lord Colin, who was then enjoying
the sports of the season, and apparently in good
health. He appeared to have been greatly attracted
by Miss Blood, whose acquaintance he then made for
the first time. She was a lady of no inconsiderable
Fifts, and there was little doubt that he speedily fell
in love with her; and there was equally little doubt
she returned sincerely and truly the affection he had
conceived for her. There was no reason to suggest
that the marriage which ultinktely took place was
based on other than sincere and mutual affection.
She brought her husband a fortune of MOO, and she
brought also considerable gifts and accomplishments.
Upon his part, as his father's son, he occupied a good
social position. He was a man of circumscribed
means, and upon his marriage he had settled upon
him a sum of £lO,OOO. The marriage took place on
the 21st July, 1881, when they went on a "melan-
choly" honeymoon trip to the Isle of Wight, Lord
Cohn Campbell being attended by a hospital nurse.
In fact, from the time of the engagement in Septem-
ber, 1880, down to the end of their married life in
1883, he was never without an attendant. Owing
to the disease from which Lord Colin was suf-
fering the marriage was not consummated till October.
1881. The case was a very horrible one, and counsel
said he would as far as possible refrain from going
into details. He proceeded to state that Dr. Bird,
who was attending Lord Colin, also attended Lady Cohn,
whose life at that time was almost unbearable. She
desired to remain a companion and even a nurse to her
husband, and hide her misery from the world, but she
could not any longer submit to enforced cohabitation.
She wrote to that effect to her husband, who replied
that she was mistaken about him, and added a state-
ment which it was difficult to suppose Lord Colin
Campbell believed to be true when he made it.
In April, 1883, during an illness of Lady
Colin, Lord Colin suggested that there
had been improper intercourse with Dr. Bird, who
insisted upon a withdrawal of the accusation. Lord
Colin did thereupon withdraw the accusation, and
requested Dr. Bird to continue his attendance upon
Lady Colin. Lady Colin persisted in refusing to
cohabit, whereupon Lord Colin said if he persisted
the must leave his house. This she refused to do.
But all money supplies having been stopped she filed
a petition for judicial separation. The condition of
Lady Colin Campbell became so serious that in Sep-
tember, 1883, a surgical operation had to be per-
formed, and it was during this period of almost un-
interrupted illness and suffering that the charges
of adultery with various persons were made against
her. In March, 1884, the petition for judicial sepa-
ration was heard and Lady Colin obtained a decree.
She then went in company with her father to stay with
her father and mother at Florence. In June, 1884,
returning from Italy, they stopped at an hotel in
Paris, where there the Duke of Marlborough called
upon them. That was made the occasion of a charge
of adultery. Lord Colin Campbell actually made a
formal demand in writing to the criminal authorities in
Paris to have his wife arrested and lodged in the prison
of St. Lazaire there. It was difficult to believe that any
man with the ordinary instincts of a man could act
thus towards a wife whom he had eo injured. But
his pride had been so lowered in the dust. Counsel
then detailed the ground for the charge of adultery
against Lord Colin Campbell, which is said to have
taken place on the 17th of June, 1882, at Cadogan-
place, with one Mary Watson. Sir C. Russell,
proceeding, said Lady Colin Campbell was in a
position to meet all the charges made against
her. The Duke of Marlborough was an old
friend of the family, so was Captain Shaw, and
to this day Lady Colin Campbell was on terms
of intimacy with Mrs. Shaw. Then there
was General Butler, a celebrated man, who had
married a celebrated woman, Mies Thompson, the
painter of "The Roll Call." General Butler was old
enough to be Lady Colin's father, and Mrs. Butler
was one of Lady Colin's dearest friends. Then came
Dr. Bird, the medical attendant, who was not attached
as a co-respondent until he brought an action against
Lord Colin for the amount of his bill. Sir. C.
Russell concluded by saying that Lady
Colin Campbell would be able to refute every one of
the foul charges made against her.

tin- I-

Formal documents connected with the former trial
having been put in, the examination of witnesses pro-
ceeded.

Lady Miles, wife of Sir Philip Miles, of Leigh Court,
Bristol, and first cousin to Lady Colin Campbell's
father, was then called, and stated that in November,
1881, Lord and Lady Campbell visited them at Leigh
Court. She used frequently to see them after their
return to London, when they lived at 79, Cadogan-
place. In 1882, knowing that Lord Colin was ill, she
took him to Mr. Allingharn, surgeon, who operated
on him in September of that year. She gave Lord
Colin the hospitality of Leigh Court during his illness.
Ile remained there until February, 1883. Lady Colin
was kind and attentive. Witness had known Dr. Bird
for many years, and asked him to attend Lord Colin,
who, as soon as he was well enough to move, went to
London. In February, 1883, Lady Colin made a
communication, and gave her a letter that was
to be shown to Lord Cohn. Lady Colin—Lady Miles
stated—had made up her mind not to live with him
as a wife, but said she would live with him on the
kindest relations and not tell any one of the separa-
tion. Lord Colin appeared to be shocked and said it
was very hard upon him, but after some time he said
he would let her have her own way for two years,
and in the meantime would treat her with affection.
Witness went to London in April, 1883, and found
Lady Colin very ill, and in intense pain. She
spoke about it to Lord Colin, who said there had
been foul play upstairs, and that she had had a mis-
carriage. Witness was angry, and replied that it
was impossible. Lord Colin said it was a fact, and
witness believing it, accused Dr. Bird of having
deceived her. Dr. Bird denied the accusation,
and refused to attend Lady Colin unless the accusa-
tion was withdrawn. Lord Colin afterwards said he
did not mean all that, and asked witness to apologise
in his name. Lady Miles continuing, said that at a
family council in Thurlow-square, at the house of Mr.
Blood, Lord Colin, complained of Colonel Butler re-
maining too long when he visited, and afterwatds
asked witness to say that he had no charge to make
against his wife. Lady Miles said she was asked by
Lord Colin to be a witness for him. She said she
would do it so far as to state that he was not guilty
of cruelty, as she understood cruelty to mean physical
illusage. She also told Lord Colin that he
bad better not call her, as she knew all
about his relations with the 'girl Mary Watson,
and it would be sure to come out. She was not a
witness at the last trial. He expressed dissatisfaction
at the result. Witness said it was lucky it was not
divorce, for if she had been called it would have been
divorce. Hearing afterwards that he had filed a
petition against Lady Campbell, she met him at his
solicitor's and told him be must withdraw it on the
sc ire of his adultery with Mary Watson. She told
him that on June 7, 1882, she dined at Cadogan-
place. When she complained of the insolence of
Watson Lord Colin said: "Poor little thing; she's
jealous." She said: "What, jealous of me ?' and he
said, "Yes." After making a poultice the housemaid
again " checked " her, and. she (Lady Miles) com-
plained again to Lord Colin, and he again took the
gill's part. At that time Lord -Colin spoke of the
girl as "a nice little thing. She afterwards saw the