The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-01 00:00:00

The Queen's Advocate said that no such impui
been made.

Lt ation had

At Valetta, Mrs. Codrington and I became intim ate in
nursing a sick friend. She said, speaking of Mildosay,
that he had an unfortunate attachment for her. I waroed
her, but I had no idea of guilt. I was alarmed when ells
day she said, " Take no notice, lam going oat." Sin
was In as loose dressing gown. I said, " She couldn't do it;"
She said, "He is frantic ; I must see him." I said, " You
won't go alone, I will go with you." She said, " I will
give it up. I misunderstood her. Sho merely wished to
speak to him." I said, " I could no t permit so unwise an
action in a friend ;" and she did not go out. Another time
she said they had been preparing a screen for a bszaar, and
had been sitting up to do it—Mildmay,the Admiral, and Miss
Horn. The Admiral had been tired and had gone to bed. In an
hour they all retired, Mildmay leaving the house as she had
supposed. When she was ready for repose, she had re-
membered leaving something in the office. She had gone
in, and to her horror found Mildmay still there, his head
between his hands on the table. She had said to him,
" Why are you not gone ?" He had said he was miserable.
She tried to soothe him, but ineffectually. Sho had then
said to him, " Wait a minute, I will get my dressing-
gown," and she lay down on the sofa iu the office. He
had attempted to use violonoa to her, but she had resisted.
and bit him on the cheek. On a third occasion she
told me that she had found Mildmay in her room one
night. She had asked him to leave the room, but use-
lessly, and he stayed till early morning. I said—
" Did you escape insult ?" She said—" How can you
talk such nonsense ? I woke in his arms." My
impression was that the seal of infamy was not yet
set. At a subsequent period she made another communica-
tion to me. That communication has never yet passed my
lips, as she made me give her an unconscious promise not
to repeat it. Now she has subpoenaed mo to this couri, I
am released from my promise, and I am bound to speak the
truth. On Nov. 13, 1861, Mrs Codrington came to our
house. We expected her at 7 ; she was an hour and a half
late. She went into my bed room, and sent a message to
say she wished to speak to me. Mr Watson, as I was not
well, asked her to coma down. After tea I saw her alone.
She immediately burst into a fit of weeping. She said Mr
Mildmay had walked with her up a lane near our house, and
that the deed was committed. When she was in my room
she said, " You won't speak of what I tell you." Previously
I had implored her to forbid him the house, which she
did. She locked up his presents, and I :hoped for reforma-
tion. The admiral at this time seemed dissatisfied. A
coldness arose between ma and Mrs Codrington, and I
asked her the reason. She said she was jealous of my in-
fluence with the children. I said this was absurd, as, before
going to Naples she had especially committed them to my
care. I looked at her, and at last I said, "Da you think
I have told the admiral my confidence ?" She said, " I
think you have." I referred the question to the admiral,
and he at once denied everything of the kind. There was
a scene of a very painful character which passed between
myself, the admiral, and his wife. She accused me in
his presence of an undue intimacy with him. We were
both very indignant. The Admiral went away, and
at last she knelt at my feet and said, " Forgive
me, forgive me; I don't believe anything of the kind.
This scene had been preceded by some report of a similar
tenor, which had reached me through a friend. I said I
would forgive her if she would give me a written denial of
the whole. She told the Admiral of her repentance, and of
her disbelief of the reporfs about us. I was not satisfied
with the expression "improper intimacy" in her first
written apology, and she wrote another. They were written
July 11, 1862. I only wish to show these letters to the
one friend who mentioned to Ms the report, and I told Mrs
Codrington I would return them afterwards to her. I did
so. After the confidence made in me, I did not like the tone
of her remarks. I could not keeplonger in communication
with her, though at first I thought she was penitent.
This was in Dec., 1661. Of course, iu society outward
appearances was observed between us.
Here the court rose.

On the learned judge taking his seat this morning,

The Queen's Advocate (tor the respondent) said, in her
evidence on Saturday, Mrs Watson had made a statement
to the effect, that on the evening of the 13th of November,
1861, at Malta, Mrs Codrington had admitted that she had
committed adultery with Lieut. Midway. That statement
had come up them all by surprise, and he felt, as it had not
been previously mentioned in the bill of parti3ulars, it was
of the highest importance that some delay or adjournment
should take place, because ho was in a condition to
state, that by sending to Malta he could obtain
evidence which would clearly show that such a state-
ment was entirely without fouadation. It would be im-
possible for him; to carry on his case, which was of the
most vital interest to the respondent, with such a statement
hanging over her, because if that one statement was untrue
it would damage the credibility of the rest of the witnesses'
evidence. He did not see how the request he had to make
could be refused by the counsel for the petitioner.
Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., followed on the came side, and con-
tended that, as the respondent was unable to give her evi-
dence in court, a was fair that every facility should be given
to her to disprove the charges made against her.
Mr Bovill (tor the petitioner) objected to an adjournment.
The Judge Ordinary suggested, as the matter had come
upon all by surprise, it might be so arranged that, as there
were two distinct branches to the case, that against Colonel
Anderson might be proceeded with. It was of the highest
importance to all parties that all the facts should be elicited.
Perhaps a consultation might facilitate the matter.
The learned counsel then loft the court for a short time,
but on their return
Mr Bovill said he was compelled to say he could not
agree to abandon any portion of the case. He also felt
bound to ask the learned judge to go on. His learned
friends had subpoenaed Mrs Watson, and they ought not
now to ask for adjournment.
The Judge Ordinary said adjournments in such painful
cases as the present were always to be deplored, but the
statement made by the witness became a very important
element in the case, Neither side seemed to have been
aware of the statement made by Mrs Watson until last
Saturday, and it was important it should be considered. It
was said that the statement was utterly untrue, but as the
matter stood it most seriously affected the case with respect
to Lieut. Mildmay, It was therefore desirable to know
whether Mrs Codrington had sail that which had
been imputed to her, and an opportunity ought to be
given to have the matter clearly settled. Lieut. Mildmay
might not have been at Malta at the exact period mentioned.
Either Mrs Codrington did or did not make the statement,
and it was important that point should be settled, as it
would materially affect Mrs Watson's evidence. Suppose
a case that the jury had given a verdict fur the plaintiff.
On the first opportunity the Queen's Advocate
Would come into court, and on the ground
of surprise, ask for a new trial. He would
say hare is a matter which sprung up during the
trial and which had influenced the decision of the jury, and
here are sworn affidavits showing the matter to be untrue.
Under the rule of the Court, a rule for a new trial would be
granted. and he considered the Queen's Advocate, in the
objection he had made now, was placed exactly in the same
position as he would occupy when asking for a
new trial. It was a cause of regret that there
should be any delay, yet there was no help for it ; and he
therefore should postpone the further hearing until next
term. He thought it would be convenient if the form of
the order to be applied for was at once stated.
The Queen's Advocate said he should merely ask for the
order to examine certain witnesses at Malta.
The Judge Ordinary directed that the witnesses should
be examined by interrogatories and not viva voce, because
by that means the exact particle of evidence wanted would
ht: got at without having a great deal of matter which was
not o: the slightest utility.
The j,:i.dge Ordinary—What is to be done suppose some
of the jurors are prevented from being present on the day
to which I adjoxrn the case, viz., the 9th of November ?
Mr Bova! said ,the Queen's Advocate agreed to go on,
hisl lordship, with as many of the
with the permission o:
lurors as would be in attar..an"'
an extraordinary interest,
The case, whichhas create.
,erefore stands over for three ino:lths•