The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-15 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

COURT OF DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary and a Special Jury.)
STONE Y. STONE AND APPLETON.
Mr Coleridge, Q.C., this morning summed up the evi-
dence on the part of the respondent, and contended that
the whole of the evidence entirely failed to substantiate the
charges against the respondent. The learned gentleman
then proceeded to comment upon the evidence that had
been offered in the case. That of Susan Marks, as
to the state of Mrs Stone's health, was strongly corrobora-
tive of the respondent's care, for nothing could be more
unattractive than Mrs Stone's condition and illness at the
time she was stated to be having continuous adulteries with
Mr Appleton, a married man, with a wife at home and
children to take care of. It was monstrous to think itl
Passing on to the evidence of Mr Deane Baker, it was
strange that he should have gone down to Sidmouth as a
" candid friend," as the late Mr Canning called such people,
to ascertain the truth of the charge made by Mrs Stern
against Mr Appleton, when he had previously heard
the statement of Susan Harris; and, if he had
believed knew that Mis Stone had almost
hourly, and certainly constantly, been guilty
of most shameless adultery. With much feeling
the learned counsel commented on the conduct of Mr
Wayett, who, he said, forgot his duties as a clergyman in
taking part against a woman who, it might have been
thought, would have enlisted the sympathy of any man
with even the heart of a fly; and if he, as a minister of
Christ, went to his parishioners' houses to listen to and
treasure up accusations against an unhappy woman
in her distress and agony, the sooner clergymen,
or rather, he (Mr Coleridge) ought to say, such
clergymen, kept away the better. Adverting to
the medical evidence, Mr Coleridge urged that it was
abundantly proved that the assumption of the child of Mrs
Stone being a seven months or a nine months' child was
strongly in favour of the case for the respondent, and unless
the jury were to think that the ordinary laws of nature had
been suspended to convict this unhapy and much injured
woman. Mr Coleridge concluded a speech of great power
and energy, and which occupied two hours in its delivery,
by saying—l regret that in the full and, as I hope, only the
conscientious discharge of my duty, I have so long detained
you. I leave it in your hands. I ask you to tear asunder
the dark cloud and cruel aspersions which have surrounded
her case and been cast upon her by her own husband. Judge
her as if it was your own case, and ask yourselves really and
truly as sensible men how far you would like the reputation
of any one you cared for, whether wife, sister, or daughter,
to be blasted for ever upon the miserable evidence in this
case. Judge her as you would judge yourselves ; try this
evidence in the crucible of your honesty of purpose and in
the fidelity of your truth, and I am perfectly satisfied that
Mrs Stone can have no fear as to the result,
There was a burst of applause at the conclusion of the
learned advocate's address.

Mr Lopez (in the absence of the Queen's Advocate'
replied on the part of Captain Stone,

(The trial was proceeding when we went to press.)

THE LATE STORMS.