The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-12-25 00:00:00

THE COLIN CAMPBELL DIVORCE
SUITS.

Of Lady Colin before the date of the consummation
of the marriage. He did not forget the disclaimer so ,
carefully read by Mr. Finlay from a written paper
on the morning after the evidence of Mrs. Wright.
Mr. Finlay had used to the full his copious vocabu-
lary in denunciation of every one whose evidence con-
Hided with the case he was instructed to submit for I
Lord Colin. But upon the devoted head of Lady
Miles was poured with full plentitude the vials of his 1
wrath. When was it that Lord Colin arrived first at
the conclusion that "a vile person" was a proper
designation to apply to Lady Miles? It could not
have been when he was accepting Lady Mike's hospi-
tality at Leigh Court from September, 1882, to March,
1883, nor could it have been when he was carrying on
that correspondence with his " Dearest Muzzie,"
and signing himself "Your very affectionate
Coco." It was on November 5, 1884, when he knew
that Lady Miles possessed certain knowledge that she
was determined to use if he pe-sieted in a course of
proceeding against his wifiiwhich Lady Miles believed
to be unjust and false. ' Having incidentally stated
that the medical evidence concerning Amelia Watson
was by no means "a thunderbolt " to his side, and
having remarked upon the possibility of the charge
brought against Lord Colin the evidence notwith-
standing, Sir Charles remarked, that Mr. Finlay had
been very pathetic in regard to this charge; but Lady
Colin's name and fame were as dear to her as Amelia
Watson's were to her; and, notwithstanding this fact,
Lord Colin had made these infamous charges against
his wife. • Mr. Finlay contended that Lady Colin was
a party to this charge, which, he said, was con-
cocted by her and Lady Miles; but this was false
and cruel, for it had been proved beyond even the
possibility of question that Lady Colin knew
nothing of the charge until Nov. 5, 1884, and then,
knowing it, she acted. Passing from this to the graver
imputations against his client, Sir C. Russell pointed
out that Lady Colin was charged with adultery with
four co-respondents, possibly with a fifth, and each
act of adultery—with the exception of those said to
have been committed at the Hotel Windsor in Paris
and at Brook-street—was alleged to have taken place
under her husband's roof in that tiny house, and on
. Those who sigh for an old-fashioned winter several occasions when Lord Colin was in the house.
have certainly had no reason to complain during This was no allegation of a sudden yielding to an evil
this present
_month of December. At its -miry passion, but a charge rudely, revoltingly, and nakedly
opening the cold set in; and as the days have put before them of a woman grossly sensuous, guilty
gone on we have had storm, and frost and snow of indencv of the very worst character as to time,
to an. extent surely sufficient to : satfsfy the place, and circumstances. Assuming that Lady
most sturdy believer in the virtues of a hard Colin were an evil and debased person, were
winter. It has been no partial visitation either, there not places in London where guilty
for from all parts a +ho claw) kingdoms hese" men and women could' hide their shame?
come reports of the effects of the cold weather. Lady Colin was, counsel continued, said to have
The disasters which accompanied the storm are enjoyed society; but what young lady of Lady Colin's
age, under ordinary conditions, would not. She was
known to all men,-and the sympathy which has vivacious, she was sprightly, and she had good spirits.
been called forth by the two lifeboat cata,stro- She comported herself in the world as a woman of
phes in the estuary of the Ribble, has life and vivacity and spirit. All these things were
assumed . a practical form characteristic of now brought up against her—things which at one time
the English race. We may not have the probably formed in Lord Colin's eyes a great attrac-
fine facility for expressing admiration for personal ti2n. But Lord Colin had never at any time sug-
bravery which marks certain other nations: but gested during his married life one word of complaint
what we lack in epithets, we make up in help; that the absence of his wife was against his wishes.
and although everyone recognises that no Upon two points be (Sir Charles) agreed with Mr.
amount of money will compensate for the loss of Finlay. First, that Lord Colin should never heve
husband or father, it is certain that much can be married; and, secondly, that a great deal too much
done by money, promptly and generously given, had been made of what was called his early indiscre-
to alleviate the sufferings of the widow and tions. But the fact remained that at the time of
orphan when the bread-winner is suddenly taken his marriage the condition of his health rendered
intercourse impossible, and the verdict obtained
away. In connection with these disasters, it is at the last trial (which had been unsuccessfully
gratifying to find that they have in no degree attempted to be upset) specifically set forth the result
shaken the confidence of our lifeboatmen in the of this illness to Lade Colin. When a man got into
stability of their craft. It would be nothing the condition in whicl Lord Colin was he viewed with
short of a national misfortune had it been other- a distempered and jaundiced eye things which, to a
wise, for the number of lives annually lost on our man of healthy vision, presented no difficulties at all.
coasts through wreck is already sufficiently great, "Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations
without any chance of diminished lifeboat ser- strong as proof of Holy Writ." Did they think that
vice assisting the total. Those that go down to any man of healthy mind would suffer it to be put
the sea in ships have perils to encounter which forward as a circumstance of suspicion that in the
landsmen do not always sufficiently realise; and early days of the marriage, before it had been con-
the least that the latter can do, when the perils summated, his wife received visitors at Argyll Lodge?
are brought home to them by some unusually It had been asserted that Mrs. Blood had urged on
appalling catastrophe, is to assist an endeavour the marriage between her daughter and Lord Cohn,
but this Sir Charles altogether denied. The
to alleviate the suffering which results. Duke of Argyll held aa exalted position,
Sir Charles Warren, the Chief Commissioner not merely by his rank, but by his own cha-
of the Metropolitan Police, has issued a notifica- meter and attainments. Mr. Finlay counsel
tion, revoking, from Monday last, the order of knew to be a distinguished Scotchman. From the
his predecessor, Sir Edmund Henderson, that all way in which he talked of this alliance with the
dogs, while in the streets of London and not led Campbells one would think that he was a descendant
by some person, should be muzzled. This will of that distinguished Highlander whom Punch has
end the controversy that has raged ever since rendered immortal, and who, upon the occasion of a
the order was first put in operation just twelve certain alliance with another member of the Camp-
months ago. There was so much to be said on bell family, said, "Eh mon, but the Queen maun be
both sides that it seemed as if, should the old a proad leddy this day." That seems to be his friend's
order be renewed, that the topic would not be view, but Sir Charles asked the jury to believe that
exhausted by the end of time. Many who looked the truth of the matter was the simple explanation
at the matter merely from the standpoint of the that Lord Colin was fascinated with Miss Blood that
Miss Blood fell in love with him, that he could brook
lover of dogs treated it as if it concerned no no delay and no risk in the aliiance which he so stren u-
other persons or things in the world: while ously desired. If, instead of being—from no fault
others who regarded dogs as nuisances to be got of his own—a practically penniless man and a youngest
rid of by any possible means, wrote and talked son, he was the heir to titles and estates, did they
as if no better occupation than dog-killing could believe there was any woman mercenary enough
ever have been devised for the police. The to barter away her daughter's young life and.
majority of people took neither of these ex- happiness if she had been put in full possession
treme views' they had an idea that Sir Charles of a true disclosure of the sad history of Lord
Warren could be trusted to carefully examine Colin's health, as Mrs. Blood was represented to
the matter in the light of experience, and that have done. After briefly sketching the conditions of
he was not likely to keep the regulations in the married life of the parties, Sir Charles said that
force unless there was convincing reason Lady Colin's complaint against Lord Colin was that
he was guilsy of reckless misconduct, and Lord Colin,
of their necessity ; and the fact that,
after the twelve months' trial, he had seen practically did not deny it. Looking at all the cir-
his way to cancelling them shows that their. cumstances, the jury would °Airily understand why
Laly Colin was willing to be an affectionate and
trust was well-founded. None more than the dutiful wife in every respect but one. Mr. Finlay
police themselves will rejoic,-... at the revocation,
for such an unpleasant and dangerous task as asked them to accept Lord Colin as a witness who.
told them nothing but the truth; he (Sir Charles)
the capture of stray dogs was an addition to their must tell them that he had given different accounts of
duties which they heartily disliked. As a matter what had been termed the precaution incident. All
of fact, the police, in such a vast city as London, could not be true, and therefore Lord Colin was not a
have quite enough to do in the prevention of reliable witness. Counsel next commented upon the
crime and the detection of criminals without evidence in regard to the alleged visits of Captain
having to occupy themselves with the capture Shaw and Col. Butler, and dwelt upon the absurdity
of masterless curs; and they are to be congra- of the suegeqions that any criminal relations existed
tulated upon the relief now announced. between Lady Colin and her visitors at the time. The
Without waiting for the official totals to be next matter of importance was, Sir Charles i'aid, the
published, it is now known that the number of visit to Leigh Court in 1882, especially in relation to
Rose Baer. It was from her scandalous gossip the
volunteers enrolled in November, the end of the first suspicion of Lady Colin's conduct arose, gossip .
volunteer year, was about three thousand in ex- communicated to her fellow-servants, and which pro-
cess of that recorded a twelvemonth before. disposed them to view with suspicion even the most
Considering that that previous total showed innocent acts of their mistress—suspicions which
224,012 enrolled, of whom 218,207 were effici Jilts, went on increasing in volume, and which, though
the increase is a most gratifying proof that allayed after Bose Baer left, were rekindled and ap-
volunteering has lost fione of its old popularity, . parently for the first time aroused in the mind of
and that the time when we shall have a quarter Lord Colin in July, 1883, by Mrs. Duffy. He charged
of million of volunteers is not so far distant Rose Baer with being the origin of the scandal, and
as might by some be imagined. The steadi- Mrs. Duffy with having diffused that scandal and
ness of the force in popular estimation, ' gossip. It was at Leigh in September that Lady
is a feature of our national . life, not Colin was first medically examined. In this
lightly to be regarded. When the present sys- connection counsel reminded the jury that Lady
tern first came into existence more than a
sColin'a first introduction to Mr. Bird was in the
-character of a patient who was suffering from a
quarter of a century ago, it was assailed with
'complaint which he should have thought would have
almost persistent ridicule, and prophecies were repelled rather than encouraged any designs Mr.
many that it would not last after the first flush Mid might have entertained. In the May following
of enthusiasm had died away. But the ridicule Lady Colin's illness, Sir Charles pointed out—when.
has disappeared, and the prophecies have proved she was recovering in health, and Lord Colin was
to be false, for to-day the force is more popular himself better than he had been for a long time—the
than ever, and scarcely any one can be found subject of resuming cohabitation was mooted, and
who is sufficiently hardy to deny that it has a assented to by Lady Colin on a condition which Lord
distinct value as a second line of defence, which Conn refuted to entertain. Then came the threat of
would be no light consideration in ease of an separation, and Lady Colin's rejoinder that it would
invasion. It is easy to laugh at the idea that have to be a public one. If Lord Colin had been
England can ever be invaded, and we all must allosred to separate from her, and the world were not
hope that the idea will always appear as ridi- told why, upon whom would the condemnation fall?
Society had strange codes c,f morality applied to the
culous as it does at present ; but it must not be
forgotten that other nations have been equally sexes. When sin of this kind was committed by a man
. the world was shocked, or affected to be, for a moment;
confident that no terrible disaster of this kind but his sin and crime were soon forgotten, and men and
could overtake them, and we have not to look women who prided and plumed themselves on their
many miles from our shores to see the result. It virtue and highly moral tone were not unwilling to
is well to be wise in time, and the volunteer move- accept the society of such men. How was it with
ment is, in this respect, an embodiment of wisdom, the poor, hapless, fallen woman? Was there any
Mention of one branch of our military organi- hope for her? Did society ever open its arms to
sation almost naturally leads to mention of receive her back again, however much there is to be
another. The question of new rifles for the army said in mitigation of her offence, however penitent
• is one that has agitated experts in this matter and humble her life? No, it was not the charity of
' .for a considerable period. As soodas it was found this world. Therefore it was that Lady Colin de-
:" that the Martini-Henry did not quite reach the mantled a public separation, which was obtained by
the verdict of the earlier trial. At the time of the
standard expected when it was adopted for the last trial Lord Colin, Sir Charles stated, had the evi-
whole army, experiments began to be made to deuce of every critness who proved anything substan-
tial in this case with two exceptions. The exceptions
these was the designing of the Enfield-Martini; were James O'Neill and De Roche, and the state-
and it looked as if this would be put in hand for meats also of the Paris witnesses, of which he thought
extensive manufacture without delay, when it Mr. Finlay made but little account. He had the
was discovered that it also had defects which statements of the witnesses who told him of the
were bound to be remedied before it could be Butler case, he had the statements of Mrs. Duffy,
given to the troops. And at the very time that who told him of the miscarriage case, he had the
the Enfield-Martini is being perfected, an statements of two or three other family servants
Austrian inventor has arrived in England to 'besides, and yet caunsel instructed by him stated in
court that no imputations were made against Lady
offer to the inspection of the War Office a new Colin, though such would have been the best possible
repeating rifle, of which the Government have answer he could have to the petition presented against
pr(Vised to order a large number if the trials himself. This was a most severe condemnation of
prove satisfactory. In the deadly game of war, the credit of hie own witnesses. The former verdict
improvements in the appliances employed are bad, counsel contended, an important bearing on the
ever being made; and although many of us may whole cif this miserable history. Lord Colin s pride
sigh for the days when war shall be no more, we was humbled in the dust. Whatever his feelings
are bound to recognise that, for our safety's towards his wife had been they were changed. What-
sake, and even for that of our national exist- ever his nature had been, whatever his kindliness or
ence, we cannot afford to have worse weapons I his affection was, all was lost in the overwhelming
than those possessed by foreign Governments. feeling that seemed to possess him, and by some means
The election of a coroner for East Middlesex or ocher he must wreck on his hapless wife vengeance
has aroused keener interest in London than any for the verdict against him which the jury in the former
similar contest for many years; and it has had the trial awarded, and by that indirect means try to
meet the crushing effect of that verdict. Indeed,
effect of drawing renewed attention to the pri- they had been told that if at the end of this casevileges and duties of an ancient and honourable there were any legal means open to him he would
office. In the plenitude of discussion that the endeavour to set aside the unjust verdict of the last
. election called forth, there have appeared various trial. Passing next to Lord Colin's act:on in Paris,
suggestions that the office is out of date and its tir Charles severely condemned the evidence on which
functions valueless; but this seems to be a con-
-- it was sought to secure the apprehension of Lady
,s Colin. The importance of this incident was not
elusion hastily arrived at from insufficient appre-
ciation of the facts. That there have been many Saturday was entirely devoted to Sir C. Russell
address in defence of Lady Cohn; and though the merely the proof of the revengeful nature which in-
scandals connected with coroner's courts it would
be absurd to deny; but the same could be said sitting was prolonged until needy five the speech wat fluenced Lord Colin. The Paris proceedings were
of police-courts, and yet no sane person would not concluded. Sir C. Russell said that be entered proof, not only of the malign influence towarde his
upon the discharge of his laborious duty with a wife which was then promptipg him and driving him
venture, because of that fact, to demand their
1886 with certain sense of relief—a relief which he felt sure to do anything, however cruel and wicked, against
suppression. As to the alleged useless- The report of the Privy Council for I would be shared by the jury before whom this very her, but they had also practical admission at that.
neSS, opinions will differ ; but those who respect to the diseases of animals will be of a most trying and painful case had been tried. It was a time that he had no cause
for belief of anything that would take away th nor had his advisers cause,
'---- - ' have had experience of coroners' courts in satisfactory nature. During the year there has been necessity of Lord Colin's case that he must not
fair name of his wife. In June, 1884, Lord Colin
71041 .%(arious. parts of England will be likely to agree only one outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease re-
i.: upon ported, and that is of a very doubtful nature, only only impute to his wife gross adultery, but denounce
signed an information In that document he asked
of value springs from inquiries
10 an' her as guilty of perjury; but be (Sir Charles) did not
the-functionazy to " be. good enough to help me to
• - • s •know that in addition to the char es at adultery
unals, whereas in 1883 there were . , . g •
• ...view ot the body." It is complained that les' ti- affecting
18,73'1 otbreaks, and 461,145 animals attacked , verify the flagrant crime." But it contained a very
mow is frequently allowed to be given before a
been 523 outbreaks of pleuro-pneuiddnitt, - and perjury, he intended to accuse her ot being
There ha ee'eeence ned tn a, cons iracy to su. ts- MS
b .d - , Jrave andgross suppression of facts. . Why was not
_ . coroner which would not be admitted aS evidence, -den -
, .
__•llloGeou"beforie a 'udee • but if any daliger.to the libert
an -.31 t (Attie have been affected. These has been
, a decrease.a swine fever-as co Dared willt se e _ ,
of others. And, aboveipall,lia'ai'd ng ir.itiiirt.. t fAA,l3llr4iWiclol2lo44Veit,VageitektrY'whe'el he'-'
waa'eeelung to put In force the foreign law, not con-
,
07110"' 6 tt ' i '- ', Usigarcprthat 14144941"113 eaSlife.)ifiCal4tr YelswevrtMg 0 ittbrtitiAg lettrar " asses-mem la AA- oille4ollsCislie husband to
tent with the English law, Lad obtained from him a
i• 581111 give testimony which involved a charge of im-
'udicial separation on account of his personal cruelty,?
e„ :r. e. B-y statute. 'Many a suspicious case affecting 33,692 animals, against 7926 outbreaks, pure life, resulting in an impure disease, on the part
of death would not have been cleared up but for affecting 38,798 animals the previous year.

an inquest, for, without such testimony as was
there given, the police would not have had
material upon which to base a demand for a
magisterial examination. One has only to
imagine how much misery would be caused were
there no machinery to investigate every doubtful
death, to appreciate the use of the coroner's
courts. Suspicions would be afloat, which might
he either baseless or well-founded, and yet which
could not furnish material for the interference of
the police, with the result that lives might be
poisoned, because of the breath of doubt arising
from the dead.

There has been such an abundance of proof
a the existence of agricultural depression during
the past few years that it is comforting to hear
that in one respect at least, 1886 will compare
favourably with some of its predecessors. It is
understood that the report of the Privy Council
with respect to the diseases of animals will show
that, during the past twelve months, there has
been reported only one outbreak of foot-and-
mouth disease, affecting no more than ten
animals; while in 1885 there were 18,732 out-
breaks, affecting 461,145 animals. A decrease,
though nothing like so marked, is shown also in
the returns of swine fever, and all must hope
that 1887 will present an even better record
than 1886, comparatively good as that for this
year is. The farmers, according to tradition,
are given to grumbling, but there is no mistake
about it that they have had much to grumble at
during the past few years. Mediocre harvests
and prevalence of cattle disease, have
assisted a keen and growing foreign com-
petition to intipoverish the greatest single
industries England can show; and it does not
need elaborate demonstration that our country
cannot flourish if its most important industry
does not revive. The old days of high prices
have gone, perhaps never to return; but it can
scarcely be that English agriculture is not
destined again to flourish. Improved methods
of farming will do much; and no lover of his
country and his kind will refrain from the hope
that in the coming years the English agricul-
turist with increased skill will secure increased
profit, and thus add at once to his own prosperity
and that of his country. A. F. R.

Last Friday was the sixteenth day of this trial
befQre Mr. Justice Butt and a special jury. The
counsel engaged were: For Lady Cohn Campbell, Sir
Charles Russell, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Inderwick, Q.C., and
Mr. Charles Matthews; for Lord Cohn Campbell,
Mr. R. Finlay, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Lockwood, Q.C., M.P.,
and Mr. R. Searle; for the Duke of Marlborough,
Sir R. Webster, Q.C., M.P. (the Attorney-General),
and Mr. Lewis Coward; for Captain Shaw, Mr. Gully,
Q.C., M.P., and Mr. C. Strong; for General Butler,
Mr. Murphy, Q.C., and Mr. Synnott ; and for Dr.
Bird, Sir E. Clarke, Q.C., M.P. (Solicitor-Generel),
and Mr. T. Terrell.

Upon resuming his address to the jury on behalf
of Lord Colin Campbell, Mr. Finlay dealt at some
length with the evidence given at the last trial. Of
all the triumphs of Sir Charles Russell at the Bar
none was greater, he asserted, than the obtaining of
that verdict. It was true that he (Mr. Finley) was
not entitled to impeach that verdict as legally binding
on this case; but if there were any means known to
the law of reopening that case it would be done. The
jury had been again and again told no charge of
adultery was made at the last trial. On that osca-
sion Lord Colin was advised that there was no case
to go to a jury. On the present occasicrn 30 witnesses
had been called. Four of these did not give evidence
in support of the charge of adultery—the Duke of
Argyll, Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Probert, and Mr.
Allingham—but they had 26 witnesses left who spoke
as to the charge of adultery. Of these 26, 20 were
witnesses whose evidence was not in the bards of
Lord Colin at the time of the last trial. Tt e
only evidence at his disposal then was that of
Ellen Brown, the housemaid at Cadogan-place, Mrs.
Bristow, the nurse, Mrs. Duffy, Mrs. Evans, Amelia
Watson, and Mrs. Wright. Would any solicitor or
counsel have recommended ths.t where a charge of
cruelty was brought against Lord ( olin in such a case
as that, he, with only six witnesses, should have
encumbered his defence by starting a cross charge of
adultery? A great deal had been said about the
literary accomplishments and the charitable disposi-
tion of Lady Colin. Mr. Fin!ay did not deny her
abilities. Ho thought there was no art in-which she
was not qualified to shine, and especially in one of
the highest—the dramatic art, for he considered that
there was a good deal of • acting while she was in
the witnees-box. They had a great deal of evidence
about charities to which she gave her attention. He
did not know what the jury thought, but to him
it seemed that a married woman with a husband
in ii-health would be better employed in being
at home looking after him than ir attending 40
charitable concerts in the course of a year.
How different was the conduct of Lord Colin. He,
under the difficult circumstance is which he was
placed, was doing his utmost to discharge his public
duties as a Member of Parliament, and, moreover,
was attending in the City at various boards of public
companies to eke out their scanty pecuniary means.
They had it on the evidence of one of the nurses that
whenever he returned home his first questions were,
"Is Lady Colin at homer "Is she by herself?"
The answer was always, "No •, a gentleman is with
her," and poor Lord Colin had to go to his own room,
and had not the pleasure of his wife's society on his
return home. An extraordinary incident had, Mr.
Finlay continued, occurred in relation to the charge
against General Butler. He listened with admiration
to tne opening speech of Mr. Murphy, in which he
denied the charge against his client as an infamous
and unfounded charge, and denounced Lord Colin for
bringing such a charge against such a man as
Sir William Butler. He conveyed the impression
that he was going to call General Butler; but all this
tremendous discharge of heavy artillery they now
knew was merely intended to cover the retreat of the
gallant general. They had heard that he was a gal-
lant and honourable soldier, but a man might be that
without being quite a Joseph in point of morals. A
gallant and honourable soldier who knew that his
evidence was vital to clearing the character of a
woman charged with adultery with him would cer-
tainly not be absent. Could the jury imagine that a
man really possessing the character given to General
Butler would not have come to give evidence if he
could have done so without committing perjury?
The evidence against General Butler alone would, Mr.
Finlay contended, entitled Lord Colin to his decree.
Passing to the evidence of Rose Baer, counsel ad-
mitted at once that Lord Blandford was not at
Leigh Court at Christmas, 1851, and that on
this point ROEO Baer was incorrect. He,
however, argued that this did not invalidate the
girl's other statements. Dealing with her story
as to the proceedings at Leigh Court and the visit of
Lord Blandfurd, Mr. Finlay insisted that it was trust-
worthy, and he felt sure the jury would not be of the
opinion that the charges made by Rose Baer and Lord
Colin were trumped up in order to obtain a divorce.
No evidence had been produced that Rose Baer had been
gossiping about Lord Cohn; and he must ask them to
believe, on the evidence before them, that Rose Baer
had not been dismissed for gossiping about her master,
but for telling the other servants that Lady Colin had
been with Lord Blandford at Leigh Court. Proceed-
ing next to an analysis of the Purfleet evidence, Mr.
Finlay insisted that Mr. Bouverie's statement clearly
demonstrated the fact that Lady Colin was at that
place with Lord Blandford in August; coiroborated,
as it was, by the assertions of the hotel servants, espe-
cially by Callingham, who said that he attended On
a lady and gentleman on two occasions on Satur-
day and Sunday in a private sitting room at the
Puraeet Hotel. They knew that what the wit-
ness stated in regard to Lord Blandford was abso-
lutely true. He was there on the Saturday and Sun-
day in a private sitting-room, and there was a lady
with him, and counsel submitted that there could not
be the slightest doubt that that lady was Lady Colin.
It was remarkable that none of the letters which had
passed between Lord Blandford and Lady Colin had
been kept. As to the incident of the fur coat, Amelia
Watson was certainly speaking the truth. Dealing
with the evidence of O'Neill, counsel at some length
contended that he was a truthful witness. Unless
O'Neill was a perjured villain there was an end of the
case. No doubt the value of his evidence in the eyes
of the jury would depend largely upon the result of
their examination of the house and the keilole in
Cadogan-place. As to the visits of Captain Shaw. he
did not think there could be any doubt. The
charge made against Captain Shaw was a very
serious one, and it was most unlikely that the
witness could have invented such a story.
With regard to the cabman and letter insi-
dent, Lady Colin explained that she was under the
influence of narcotics at the time; yet these very odd
narcotics, Mr. Finlay said, did not interfere with her
writing the note; indeed, the effect of the narcotic
taken by Lady Colin seemed to have been to make
Mrs. Duffy stupid—for Lady Colin could not tfust
her to take one note down to a cabman and bring
another up. Commenting on a e evidence given as to
the behaviour of Mr. Bird and Lady Colin while in
the cab together, he asked the jury if it was at all
probable that the jolting of the vehicle could have
produced the effect which was spoken to by the cab-
man. Then was it not an odd circumstance that Lady
Colin and Mr. Bird should consider it necessary to go
to Brook-street for medicine when the medicine might
have been purchased at any chemist's shop in the
streets? Counsel also asked if it was likely there
were two ladies with collie dogs visiting Lord Blends
ford at Queen Ann's-gate; and if Lady Colin was not
the frequent visitor, where were Lord Bland ford's
servants, and where was his valet, Wright? He sug-
gested to the jury that they would have been
called had Lord Blandford dared to put them in
the box. Ccunsel next reminded the jury that Lady
Miles, on one of her visits at Cadogan-place, went
upstairs fully convinced that Lady Colin had had a
miscarriage, and he asked, if Lady Colin had led the
irreproachable life which was slaw suggested, was it
likely that Lady Miles would have so readily believed
she had been guilty of adultery? After commenting
on the evidence of Mr. Probert, Mr. Finlay described
that of Dr. Hicks as the testimony of a thorough par-
tisan. With regard to the contention as to whether
or no Lady Colin was in town on Sunday, August 13,
he held that the alibi which it had been attempted to
prove had not been established by substantial evidence.
The only witness that could be said to be independent
was not called—the Baroness Stillfried, who was said
to have been at the theatre with Lady Colin on the
Saturday night that Lady Colin was charged with
being at Purfleet with the Duke of Marlborough—and
the only reason why the Baroness was not called was
the same one that prevented the attendance of General
Butler—she could not give evidence in favour of Lady
Colin Campbell. Out of the charmed circle of family
and servant-class witnesses not a single indepen-
dent witness could be found to seppert the alibi set
up against the Puraeet incident. Dealing with the cases
against the co-respondents, counsel said if the Duke
of Marlborough's second story, that he went to Pur-
fleet with another woman, and not Lady Colin, was
true, there could be no more sacred obligation resting
on him than to have cleared Lady Colin by making
efforts to put the other woman in the vritness-box.
Instead of that the Duke of Marlborough did not
even mention the matter to his legal advisers. As to
Mr. Bird, the evidence in his (Mr. Finley's) opinion
clearly proved the charges made against him. He
was continually with Lady Colin, and the other ex-
traordinary conduct of that gentleman had been
heightened by the scene of the young and devoted
medical men sitting at the feet of his patient at the
piano. Every point in Mr. Bin's conduct was full of
suspicion. Mr. Finley, in conclusion said that,
taking the effect of the evidence as a whole, the result
in favour of Lord Colin ea 3 irresistible. Counsel
concluded his speech at 4.45, having spoken seven
hours and a halt.

Did any one believe that the functionary to whom this
petition for "protection and assistance" was rd-
dressed would have done anything but fling it Lack
in Lord Cola's face had he known that the woman
against whom he was seeking to proceed was a wife
.who by her own action, and on her own petition, and
for her own protection, had obtained from him a
decree of judicial separation? Jurymen were
also asked to consider on what evidence
it was sought to establish Lady Colin's
guilt. They were requested by Sir Charles not
to forget that Lady Colin was a person who, from
her attractions, to put it shortly, could not very well
move about in London society, or, indeed, anywhere,
without attracting more or loss attention. Did it
not strike them ender those circumstances as odd,
that not a single witness of that class of life to which
Lord Colin and his wife belonged, had been called to
suggest the slightest—he would not say act of impro-
priety or indiscretion—levity on her part with those
whose names were associated with hers in regard to
this case? Was it not remarkable that this story,
was made up of the tales of gossipping servants, sup-
plemented by the observations of cabmen and one
stableman? Mr. Finlay said, that "if of all this
mass of filth which has been flung at this lady's fame
some of it sticks, the architectural effect
is all I desire you to look at. That is
quite enough." That was not the result he (Sir
Charles) wished to get. He should examine
every story over and over again, and if he could show
them that they were not to be relied upon he should
say that these odds and ends, these scraps and gos-
Eipings, were not materials on which the lady in ques-
tion, and the gentlemen whose names had been at4so-
ziated with hers, could be proved to have been guilty
of misconduct. The evidence which had been given
had been due to misrepresentation and fabrication
partly, certainly in the case of O'Neill and De Rocne,
to absolute fabrication. Rose Baer was the most im-
portant of these witnesses. She it was who first gave
tongue to this calummy. With regard to the incident
of the concert at Bow, on that point they had the
clearest information; and that was one of the
strongest instances in this case of the witnesses per-
verting facts innocent of themselves into something
implying criminality, secrecy, and deception.

On Monday, Sir Charles Russell concluded his
ad.iress, and Mr. Justice Butt having summed up, the
jury retired shortly before seven o'clock in the even-
ing to consider their verdict. At a quarter-past nine
they returned into court and intimated that, though
they were agreed upon the suit against Lord
Colin, they were divided in their opinion as to
whether the charges against Lady Colin had
been proved. The Judge pointed out that it
would be a calamity to the parties concerned in
the suit in the, event of the jury not being able to
agree. The foreman of the jury wished to state
what was their difliculy, but the judge thought
it would not be :desirable, and urged them
to deliberate again. At thirteen minutes past
ten the jury again returned into court, and, in
answer to the formal questions put to them,
said they found that Lord Colin had not
been guilty of adultery, and that Lady Colin
bad not been guilty with either of the co-respondents
or with any person unknown. They censured General
Butler for not having come forward.to give evidence.
The result of the trial was received with applause,
Lady Colin%) friends gathering round her and tender-
ing their congratulations.