The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-30 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE—June 29.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

(Before Chief Justice Cockburn and a Special Jury.)
MORRISON V. BELCHER.--LIBEL.

This was an action brought by Mr. Richard James Mor-
rison, lieutenant in the Royal Navy, against the defendant,
Admiral Sir E, Belcher, for writing and publishing a de-
famatory libel, to which the defendant pleaded as a justifi-
cation that the statement was in substance true.
Mr. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Griffiths appeared for the
plaintiff, and Mr. Sergeant Ballantine for the defendant.
Mr. Sergeant Shee said the plaintiff was a lieutenant in
the Royal Navy, and having distinguished himself in his
profession temporarily retired from the service. and
became a student of astronomy, and, amongst other things,
of astrology. He also was the editor and proprietor
of Zadkiel's Almanack, which had obtained an enormous
circulation and great notoriety in consequence of his hav-
ing predicted the death of the Prince Consort. Alderman
Humphrey having made some particular observations upon
the statement in Zadkiel's Almanack, the circumstance
was commented on in a leading article of one of the daily
papers, and afterwards a letter, signed "Anti-Humbug,"
And which was of a most scurrilous nature, appeared in the
same journal, and he should be able to prove that the writer
of it was the defendant. The letter, after making some
very severe comments, went on to inquire who was
Zadkiel, and whether there was no means of
ferretting him out and handing him over to the
magistrate at Bow-street as a rogue and vagabond
The writer said he thought he could help him to obtain
the desired information, and he thought he had seen his
signature as the president of some particular society—viz.,
R. J. Morrison. That he was also the celebrated Crystal
Globe seer, the particular virtues of which were, that
by its aid communications with the spirits of the departed
might be made, and that he had even gone the length of
saying that communications had been had with the spirits
of the twelve apostles. That he had engaged theservice of a
soy through whom hewed to act, but the boy had "peached"
and thus the whole affair had been exposed—in fact, said
the learned counsel, amounting to an assertion that my
client was an unprincipled impostor. He then went on to
describe the virtues of the " Crystal Globe," in which
visions Were stated to have been seen, and said the mysteri-

ous " crystal" in the possession of the plaintiff was pur-
chased at the sale of the effects of the late Lady Blessing-
ton, and very shortly after, a boy, after looking at it some
time, stated that he had seen visions, and also after that, a
young man named Usher, not only said he had seen similar
scenes, but had actually drawn representations of the
things he had seen in the " Crystal." Now his client,
Mr. Morrison, never for one moment pretended that
he had seen visions such as were described,
but his son having seen something which he said was con-
nected with the Arctic expedition, Lady Franklin desired
the "crystal" might be brought to her, and from the pub-
licity given to the scene seen by young Morrison it became
quite the rage in the fashionable world. Peers, bishops,
ladies of the highest position, all were anxious to watch
the crystal. So great became the pressure upon Mr. Mor-
ris= that he was compelled to leave town, and he (Sergeant
Shee) should be able to produce letters written by persons
of the highest position to Mr. Morrison, all asking for a
view of the crystal. Althouo an attempt might be made
to draw the attention of the jury from the point before them,
an action for the recovery ofdamages far a malicious libel, by
involving them in some sort of inquiry into the science of
the stars, he felt satisfied that after Sir E. Belcher having
refused to make the apology his client required, they
would give him such damages as would prove he was not
the unprincipled impostor the defendant said he was.
The following is the concluding portion of the evidence
which appeared in our Third Edition of last evening :
Lady Harry Vane—The letter put into my hand is one I

wrote relative to seeing the crystal. It was in consequence
of something I had heard horn my father, the late Earl
Stanhope. I went with two friends, but met others there.
I saw the ball; a little boy looked into it. He said he saw
a great many things, but I cannot recollect how many.
Neither I nor my friends paid anything to Lieut. Morrison
for seeing.

Cross-examined—Lord Effingham was of the party. It
was at Mr. Morrison's own house that the exhibition took
place.
The Master of the Temple, Rev. Mr. Robinson said—l
saw the Crystal Globe wire, once at my own house, and
once at Sir J. Cockburn's. The plaintiff was present. Tht
boy Usher looked in. He said he saw figures and writing.
I asked him what he saw by putting one or two questions
to him, and asked on one occasion if he saw my son, who
was then in Jamaica. He described him and his
wife sitting in chairs in the garden. He could
not identify his son by the description. He merely said
it was a clergyman and a lady. The ball was brought to
my house at my own request. I never paid any money for
it being brought there.

The Bishop of Lichfield said—l was present at my son.

in-law's house when the ball was to be exhibited, I saw it.
I had not the least reason in the world to believe that money
was paid for the exhibition.
Lady Egerton of Tatton—The letter put in my hand is
written by me. I went to see the Crystal Ball ; some gen-
tlemen were of the party. A boy looked in the ball. When
I asked him how many guardian angels I had, he said
" seven." (Laughter.) I said that was a large number—

(laughter)—but the boy said most persons had tour.
(Laughter.) I was most courteously received, and I never
paid any money for seeing the ball.
The Marchioness of Aylesbury said—l saw the Crystal
Ball at Mrs. Mertoa's. Several persons werepresent. The
ball was looked into by a boy.
Cross-examined—l did not make any inquiries relative
to the " ball." I thought it such nonsense. Ido not
attend voluntarily to-day. I was subpoenaed.
The Rev. George Stokes—l knew the boy Usher and the
son of Mr. Morrison. They were both pupils of mine. Mr.
Morrison's wife was my daughter. I thought Mr. Mor-
rison was deceived as to what he thought about the ball.
Cross-examined—Mr. Morrison professed that young
persons saw visions in the ball, and I am certain he believed
they did. I did not allow other boys beside Usher to look
into the ball. lam sure none others went.
Mr. Fulham Webster—l am a director of the New
River Company, and reside in Berkshire. After 1 had
seen the ball I wrote the letter put into my hand, request-
ing that my friends might see it. When I saw it a boy was
looking, and he said he saw a number of things, in answer
to questions put to him. I became acquainted with Mr
Morrison through friends. I paid no money for seeing the
Crystal.

Cross-examined—The first time I went wag with a lady,
and the second time Mr. Reynolds was with me. I was not
so happy as to receive a great q antity of guardian angels.
I believe one of the questions asked was where Sweden-
borg was to be found ?
Mrs. Ann Merton—l am the widow of Colonel Merton.
I rcqu( sted Mr. Morrison to bring the Crystal Ball to my
house. On the first occasion it was shown to friends of
mine. There was a large party. A young lady and
gentleman looked into the ball, and were asked questions as
to what they saw. The ball was brought to my house five
or six times. Sir E. Belcher was present on two or three
occasions. I don't recollect whether he was there the
first time the ball was brought. I recollect Sir Edward
asking me to get Mr. Morrison to bring the ball.
Tho ball was brought and examined by Sir Edward's

friends. Sir Edward did not ask any questions about it.
Nothing was paid, nor was any money given for the ball
being brcught.
Cross-examined—lt was an evening party. I first met
Mr. Morrison at the Rev. Mr. Stokes'. He kept a school.
Young Usher used to come from the school to look at the
globe.

The Chief Justice—The ball was brought for amuse-
ment, and not for the purpose of prying into secrets of the

past ?
Witness—No, purely for scientific amusement.
Mrs. Hoseason—l am the wife of Captain Hoseason, of
the Royal Navy—l first saw the crystal ball at High
Beach. I was intimately ac ,uainted withyoung Usher. He
was the son of Admiral Usher. I have seen another young
lad and Mr. Morrison's eon look into the globe. I did
not think young Usher was speaking the truth when he
was describing what he saw in the ball. No money was
ever paid for exhilsiting the crystal.
Mr. Charles Kent—l am a member of the Bar, and the
Proprietor and Editor of The Sun newspaper. I know the
plaintiff very well. I recollect seeing the crystal ball seve-
ral years ago. It was at No, 1 Park-lane the ball was ex-
hibited. There were altogether four persons present,
amongst whom was Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, A servant
looked into the ball, and after gazing at it some time, she
said she saw a man apparently either dying or deid, with
his eyes closed and lying down. She said she saw
a very curious tree, and described a houso with
a number of turrets. It appeared to me to resemble Kneb-
worth-park, with which the girl's description corresponded.
The girl had never been there. I gave no money, and
heard no mention of any being given. I don't believe any

was given.
Cross-examined— rho house in Park •lane was Sir Edward
Lytton's. Lieut, Morrison, Sir Edward, myself, and a
domestic servant were present. The servant, after looking
some time at the ball, described Sir Edward's country house.
Sergeant Shee—Although she had never been there ?

tiVitness—Yes.
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton—l recollect seeing the ball
exhibited at my house. It was seen by a domestic servant,
whom I had engaged abroad as cook. She looked in the
glass, and described a place like my house in the country,
but she might have seen pictures of it. I don't thia any-
thing remarkable occurred after looking at the glass, or I
should certainly have made a note of it. Mr.
Morrison was introduced to me by a gentleman of very high
attainments, and the highest honour, a great friend of
mine, Mr. Kent. No money was paid for the exhibition
of the ball most certainly.

Mrs. Allen—l looked at the ball on one occasion. I
saw the reflection of my mother with a child in her arms in
it. The ball became cloudy, but on clearing both the
figures disappeared. On another occasion I saw a man is
armour, and altogether a scene of the most singular and
mysterious nature. I shall never forget it as long as I
live.

Cross-examined—There could be no mistake about what
I saw. I refuse to look on the crystal in court, because I
consider it too solemn a thing to be laughed at. (Laughter.)