The Sun.
London, England, 1823-02-21 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, WESTMINSTER, FEB. 20.
ANONYMOUS LETTERS.—LIBEL. •
SIR- DAVID OGILBY AND WIFE V. J. CHANNON -AND WIFE.*
Mr. CAMPRE Li. opened the pleadings.—This was an action,
for several libels alleged to. have been published by the de-
fendant's wife, of and concerning the plaintiff:
Mr. SCARLETT stated, that this action was brought by Sir
David Ogilby, a General in his Majesty's service ; the other
plaintiff was Lady Ogilby, a Lady of great personal beauty,
great family, and opulence—against the defendant and Lady,
who are likewise persons of great opulence, and moving in a
high sphere of rank and fashion, to recover a compensation
in damage% for a series of the most extraordinary libels for
their character of malignity. Sir David, on his return from
India, had the misfortune to lose his first wife. Ile accidentally
beiame acquainted with the defendant in the course of last
year, and became an occasional visitor at Mrs. Channon's
house; in the course of April, last year. Mrs. Channon re-
quested Lady Ogilby to introduce her at Court, Lady Ogilby
did not'chooae to introduce that Lady, and sent an excuse that
her carriage was full ; Lady Ogilby afterwards gave
and omitted to invite Mrs. Channon ; he mentioned-this as
the prebable motive of malice for the libels in question. The
defendant's wife said to a Lady going there, do you know the
character of Lady Ogilby whom you are going to visit ? This
was the manner in which she went on, by dark hints, to un-
dermine the high character of that Lady, whilst at tids*very
time Mrs. Channon was doing all she could to cultivate Lady
Ogilby's acquaintance. On the Bth Of July a party took place
at the house of a Gentleman of fortune ; in one of the apart.
ments of the house she accidently saw Mrs. Channon ; that
circumstance produced such at:4re= upon her nerves she
could not overcome the 'sensation' and was suddenly indis-
posed at the sight of her. The Learned Counsel read a letter
from Mr*. Channon to Sir David, protesting that she could not
account for the expression of Lady Ogilby, that she could not
bear the sight of her, complimenting Lady Ogilby on her
beauty, and professing the warmest frlendship to Sir David
and Lady. One of the anonymous letters ran thus :—" Lady
Ogilby is now in the back ground (spelt grond), from having
kept company with certain low characters, who have been fre-
Suently noticed in company for their lewd winks to the men."
igned " A Friend to Morality."—The next letter is addressed
to Lady Paxton :—" A friend to Lady Patton wishes to
caution heragainst the society of Lady Ogilby, for keeping
company with certain disgusting characters."
The next letter is to Lady Desange, the wife of the late
Sheriff:—" A person, who only heard yesterday of Lady D.'s
acquaintance with a person named Lady Ogilby," and con..
mining a caution similar in substance to the former, it con-
cludes—" This is written by a parson who saw you coma from
theirhoase, and thinks it better to caution you against such
sequaintances." The Learned Gentleman observed, such
malignity would hardly be credited from the other sex, much
less from the delicacy of the female character. These letters
would convey to the public a character of malignity, a love of
scandal, hitherto unknown to the delicate.feellnys of the female
mind. Mr. Scarlett referred tea summons taken out before
Mr. Justice Best, in which Mrs. Channon was called to come
forward and disavow the hand-writing, flirt Mrs. Channon re-
fused, Had she done so, Sir D. Ogilby would have accepted
her disavowal, instead of bringing this action. Sir D. Ogilby
Was above pocketing damages in a Court of Justice, and what
were given should go forth to the public, as a test in favour of
Lady Ogilby's.character, and to mark the disapprobation of a
British Jury towards the malignity of these libels.-
Miss Duncan, sister to Lady Ogilby (a lady of great per.
sonal attraction) examined by Mr. GußNEY.—Witness's sister
married Sir D. Ogilby in 1813. They have five children. In
April last they exchanged several visits with Mr. and Mrs.
Channon. About a week before a drawing-room was held at
Carlton Palace. Mrs. Channon applied to Lady Ogilby to in.
troduce her, which Lady Qgilby declined. Remembers Lady
Derange visiting Lady Ogilby, when Mrs. Channon's carriage,
then at the door, withdrew as Lady l)essnge'a carriage came up
SCiiinaancenatiflntilvaatfs•teensrpm'eciitnativridigytedL?adgyil boAfter
ig
Ist:7yr awiptna
character. retsy,,anadt
sisterwhichA rg.in e
tChan.a Mrs.t
Ludy Gresley's, when that lady mentioned that she had receiv-
ednon requested witness to call on her, for that she had something
very important to communicate. There was after this another
narty at Lady Oresley's. Witness, previous to this, called on
ter.

Mr. GURNEY desired witness would not mention names of
eather party.. Witness proceeded; at this interview the said
she was anxious to renew the acquaintance and said sotnething
about it Gentleman that baked just like a ghost.—(A laurfr.)
—She said she was willing to come forward and take Sir D. by
the hand ; witness was at a party on the Bth July ; wean) the:
next party at Lady Gresley'e ; at This time neither Sir David
nor Lady Ogilby had the lent knowledge of these anonymous
letters ; but the acquaintance between them had been pres
viously discontinued.
Cross-examined.—[The SOLICITOR-GENERAL put into
witnesses hand a letter, which she acknowledged to be her
writing.)—The visits between the plaintiffs and defendants
were not more frequently altogether than three or four times
prior to October last. 'Lady Ogilby was presented at the Draw.
mg-room the year before; she was to have been presented by
Lady Desange, but by some mistake was presented by the Lord
in Waiting ; Lady Ogilby was not introduced by Mrs. Chan.
non to MrseDesange, bat to Mrs. Channon, at Lady Desange's;
believes 'Lady Ogilby went to that Drawing-room at which-
Mrs. Channon wished to be Introduced ; She was afterwards
Introduced by Lady Hamilton • Lady Ogilby said, at Lord
Gresley's, that she could not introduce, but would be glad to
see Mrs. Channon at the Droving-room on the Bth of June.
Lady Ogilby and Sir David, prior to this, lived at Rochester.
Re-examined by Mr. SCAR estrr.—lier sister has five chil-
dren ; Lady Ogilby is constantly with her children, nursing
them ; and prior to this had not gone much into society.
• Miss Mary. Ann Paton, the celebtate&singer.—liisows Mr.
Channop s remembers hearing Mrs. Chanson say, that Lady
Ogilby would not take her tathe Drawing-room; this was soon
after the Drawing.roorn.
• Sir Francis Desange.—Remembers receiving the produced
letter sept by post to witness's, wife; thinks it was in an enve.
lope ; handed it to Lady Ogilby ehad not much knowledge of
Mrs. Channon at that time; has known Mrs. Desange about a
year and a half.
Mr. ScAneETT desired theludge, by examining the water.
marks, to see that these letters were written on the same
paper.
Mrs. Buchannan, an elegant and interesting female,bei
called to the Witness-box, fainted, but immediately recovered
and was sworn. Has known Mrs. Channon from May last;.
knows her hand-writing ; witness's sister, Mrs. Plunkett, has
received letters from her ; has seen the produced letter ; it is a
disguised hand from witness's knowledge of her hand-writing,
thinks it is Mrs. Channun's ; shown the envelope., thinks it is
here; the letter to Lady Paxton and envelope, thinks it is her
hand-writing ; likewise that to Lady Derange ; shown another
letter, " I have no doubt of it ;" the peculiarity it, she crosses
the F in a remarkable matine.r.
Mr: SCARLETT—Look, the word " grond," how does she
pronounce it ?.-.dhoti, leaving out the 41.. Ir, every word she
uses the large D, as in writing LaDy Desange,
Mr. Alfrey, schoolmaster at flurstmonceaux, in Sussex,
taught Mrs. Channon to write, in May, sixteen years ago, prin-
cipally by himself and his father. lies seen her write lately.—
(Looks at the four letters produced.)—They are in a disguised
hand. Believes them to be the hantiewsiting of Mrs. Channon ;
hat no doubt of it at all.
Mrs. Dalton knows Mrs. Channon—bas corresponded with
her. Has examined the produced letter to Lady Pattein2—hee
nd doubt that it is her writing. Witness lives at Brook-greere....
has corresponded with Mrs. Channon ten or twelve years age,
and is intimately acquainted with her hand-writing. Mrs.
Channon has copied the words set to music for witness.
bliss Duncan recalled-.. Has examined these four letters, and
believes solemnly from notes she has received from her that
they are Mrs. Channon's hand-writing. ,
Mr. Grace, Attorney, proved the serving of a Judge's sum.
mons on defendants, for the purpose of 'examining the hand-
writing at Judge's Chambers; Defendant% attorney did not
give a list of any persons to attend. At the time of COTIVCISS-
tion with defendant'eattorney, witness being shown other let-
ters, said he had very little doubt about the hand-writing.
Libela put in and read :_u That horrid intriguing sister of
her's, going about with her ogling themes) with 'lewd gestures.
It is a shame that such people should get into fashionable so.
ciety, after ke.ipitig company with disgusting characters and
having been in the back grond, they are now received into a
little society ; cautioning the parties to svhoni addressed to
shun their society, for that they ere notoriously addicted to
slandering polite families. " A FareiND TO MORALITY."
Time reading of these acumen% excited a general senile.
Sir. P. Desange re.called—Cannot believe they are defen.
ditnet handwriting; I will say, I do tot believe they are
her* thatis still stronger; Mrs. Channon has soleronly denied
they are her's.
bli. Se en i.ET T --Have you heard that Sir David is it soldier?
Witness—No ! I thought you meant that was like a soldier.
Mr. SCARLETT.--hia
net likely that I should make that
mistake ; your 103ki' are not like a soldier.--(A laugh.)
The Soeicyroit-GismitesL addressid the Jury foe the. de-
fend:trite. His Learned Friend had introduced Sir a Oeilhys
in terms of great reepect. lle had introduced Lady- Ogilby
also in the basic respectful, reamer. The Sedicitor.Otneral
was not disposed to-object "to that representation, because as
Mr. and Mra.:Cherinon were' in the habit tit- visiting Sir D.
and Lady Ogilby, it would not be honourable to his client* to

ernel,l9l°nsl;ilals,
detract from the credit of the plaudit. M the same Chi
expected shit justice would be done to Mr. and o
non, who had always kept the best company ; and unless °'t
Jury should substantiate this foul charge against them, they
would return to the world as honourable as they ever bad
been. Nothing could be more .base than to impute Charget
of this description without evidence. The Jury were to
enter calmly and deliberately' into this charge, and upon
the'evidence decide whether it was possible this Lady coski
have been guilty of the foul offence. In looking over the
letters, the Jury would find that they-were written by se
illiterate
person. His Learned Friend says, Nirs. Chaneolils,
had not the best education, and it was probable she ring .
be the author of these letters. He should prove, h 7 'lt'
nesses of the highest character, that there was not the slightest
foundation for such a statement. She was Lady of xcel:
lent education, writing' letters in a most admirable style, o,nd
beloved by all who had the honour of her acquaintance. .1-1 m
Chanson had the misfortune, in the month of :November, to
lose her sister, Mrs, Coquette. Iu consequence of the I°'''
btoewnprettedthe month of opfraAwlprnilt frooollornw
she *chided herself in the coun did not return to
try, and
go to the Drawing-room until the second Drawinie:reismf
July, and then there was not the least difficultY is 14'4
presented by Lady Desanges. With respect to Mr. Pen;
Ball, he should prove Mrs. Chanson was not in the r. It
did not appear that Lady Ogilby at that time suspected
..„
Channozi to have been the author of the letters. With refP7a
to proof of hand-writing. Mrs. Plunkett, the person ecapP__
to carry on the mediation, was not called, because her OK!:
would have contradicted the testimony of 3lrs. iiirdadn_l_'.°'',i.
All evidence applied so a feigned hand was of the most Plc
ful description. Nothing could be more falisciuus °id' 10
Inihweredr.seigiblyii,itswtuhretilshto::allb itngsh-e 'Stilled had
inutedentisier: li'')-
the evidence of Mr. Alfrey, he at first, suppesid there h Ito
cone
strong proof of hand-writing. That witness had taught ec 0
write, but it turned out, after many years hid slap siesCeeisu
teaw.her writing, that he drew his conclusion only (11)!gled fool
.ilu.elssloonoff Buchananevidene
egme came,.u,
tctono her 6..
Mrs. t.. hannon.:-e reputation P,•
to come to a • l • which
There waanother ' . witneis'i the
ari
s-iowily unspotted to' odium for life. Other witocs..th', heti,
and Mr. Lewis Desanges, who had ale) sP°k° w„ritten II
writing, gave their opinion that the letters were not lwo,
s negative
~
Nolekens. He was eked on the question of; han-* itir -OW.
he said, Ido not believe it to be the hand-writing of Mar!.bon is
the room at Mr. Penn's Ball,
mil' Sir F. Desanges and the Baron Nolekens, wi,'° h:loot
the habit of receiving notes, were clearly of °Oman l• mot it
her hand-writing. lie should call 'other witnesses oil' est is
was not her hand-writing also that INirs. Chanson Ifs_ pit
the. letters in question.
ill. He should call the servant of Lady Cbann°l' tfe,:;s- were
npuevterbywhenert out alone oinnethine
pthusetcaontrthiagese-.ul:,4antahcn(il'ofd:ttmhti:iisttiyenn,droteuhccpovtligc.tillrki
e
on
Witnesses were then called for the dekocc.,.„,,, big gr
Sir Robert Steel had known 111 r. and Mrs.
,_,.,"'"r", with l'tr'
five years, and had been in the habit of cOrreaPriTZ .1 old %
(Looked at the letters.) The letters nisrite° '.'''4 eas t'''
were not her hand-writing. No. 3 was not. he'
Had never known her mix-spell words in her lettere- „woe
Cross-examined by Mr. Scala LET T.--Ilis Orr;.satotttr.
of
mmirntaieraio.wmfcensishheterbriienosr;oherißynfseTeold:Chilis.nit:T:wnal:diTcoladar.iyear_,:inittightteet:,.wr:etarsic_.„;,:::.;,t-sediu*:::::::ir:irokl-11,,;ft;:,
bad nothing particular in it. The correanoodence,s IWO
of civility. She was married ; the witness also lee Ath oct
man. He resided in Dorsetshire. Mrs. Channel: e..--
to Lady Steele. 4
110 rern`h
lbw
uß::tanlrheeceinDiselrawbliyetngtter.hroones
beret'. Lady Steele going to the Drawing:woo' I,„ oh 101,
Ereised Mrs. Chanson to go to the Drawing' siest,
t'shitnh_teeleLem
owhaeda n
(lag r
nkntys she
in.w r i
te e
mourning.
eo:ifuntstsrgsani e drii
dngi
Robertsn.
h c ownses ( 1 ua
ce (
in
ocea i t :ft
etdhevidit:tlivi 't)tie.tteo);
.i„,
10• Onzte
dtnutioio.dgti.:salo ti::::: believe)::axu;esvarie;Liirt:itighs
enr:tee
Cross-examined
i n , toanfberSdcm:slLinhliehrscAwed,liel e;l.(lialte:niAljna3tl3lltrinrsY:us.°:;llcitgl:iiibLl'Y7loll.ll:-Prislisill::,:sile!lll
wrote
n
t
,a.a:thebelieve.iinecit._mnotes;alwe.nni.o
:r receivedt h
hea n
nrhera..vrit..
never
Jackson erinhskvi remarkedion
the
eettat remarkable
aiholldrekoert
from
tooting
iboaL a
dee
imnoo3;o cn
ii
witness
e,ll a
ue.
Lo;h
:bi
.1
‘haetet i
rti
naaarrhrtr
snn.mi
v.e Steele
mistakes; dw.od
la.
0.. . .
:81.
iwcro.
ccoi;:;i
ti 1
lum t
,aikohuaa 1
Chanson
e 0
sne
looked
:rt.;
t,tao:l4,
ihass
4s.
nh:_si . t
ne;:nr.nci,
~,i
in,t.ii 4
:11,
.1..
.10
oc,
n;
c:
it,
Li
e.,eiethoi
lu‘,.,:s.jeo, i
teor t
0, ,
4.
(3
r, .
1,
reedy 1
lit 0
,liei
ti
al : f
ay
itli
a:e ;
11. 1
liil
i,:o tarsi
ii
rilaatri
,:b
ila ;
:.1 0
j:T' 1
t.
1,::
7 she illl4't
n
es
jr .firSt 41VI h
00..;C:tai :1'
~,,,d:
thes_ y did not appear to her to be Mts. Cleturl'', hsdrsl
the anonymousci letters some days ago. iTh..nri. 11 -ail'
, t,ur v, 0,
0 ~j; ):
had sett; the writing of Mre.l)he viarot 01
ht.' .st°l.el::_miMr:dirrs...e.,TJoysti
Francisitul.e. ii Q letters
m_fws
ta
sls u
Ec;aP
iktr a
mbe,
she
rd i II
0 ir
ud.' -c e el:
ha enfit
on
the
t'bb I is.'
en.
ich,.,a Iti
1:
efil r
1.
Mfrs'
: t
....ce...
..),
. July
e. ;I. e;
s:n 0
tt :
s:e 4
i jI 1
i‘ e .
,ih: :1 -
oi
I, f. j:: r i
the dan • circumstance of LadY.OgilbY being t's neon there
, a,zldto be lice's; he did riot "e di.s Ttn'"'il en ''e
Ogilby pass through the t w"
st ‘IT" Chan.
4 - ''
n e
chththeear- -lawtettterati
Mrs. Jones called again Lady 00,hY,.;tsit illy
Ile° th.d,,,s
was in considerable a •.--- She Wu 4-- ee°
yr.
r'...i.
04db! mentioned Mig.taCihman'nen's name. , t the
sir
Ball.i X. Charlotte Denys said she Wag lamlui! ili
Jo
Her Ladyship was sitting with her bit she ale
0 ill out. rioi
get up, to let Lady
•g hen
said the didnot believe t le si,
of .i.
that of Mrs. Channon . i. „d.writifflo h 0
ca'nlits Denys was acquainted with the .10"..,, not
writini. chsnoll est'
Joseph Laws •with 310. - veil
Lawson, a servant, lived ,_, Ile ue ,
~,0
Went out in
. the carriage; he attended Of:0; hot. !joiros
bered putting any letters in the Poet in ius leis lief 0;
Ann Shileock, maid to Mit. Chanson; . e - ert 1
nd '
be tes)/Irt, (144.
September lastfkb;antnCwitYowli‘°Pashe too
footm -an always went out with her mistreSs.
.40 tit,.„lol
Mr. Winter, attorney for the defendant, s ~,,,, i„, ,
ey l,r '- ft!
surrirMnS to hopect the letters ;he conomed al.
40 tr
well educated woman. Mr- - e,,,tt
The evidence having closed for the defence' 00041,1 ~,
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE,
uedPonthethheaniirs° be.
alt it, ',...-etl-4 i'ller::,,,
no correct knowledge of Mr& Chanson big trot iristA
called by the defendant's. It was remarks i% die ft, Pr,
not call her brother, who had ' Court thlt e,lO 'if
been in to ,oe -
and coMplained that nooe b 0 tiny 'iv,"
it, his charge. oot, tie.
~u, to their satisfaction that these letter
they receive anonymous letters, to throw la,01001;tel4
for if there happens to be a little truth in ed' IP,', istl:e.
there is generally a great deal of r,lselluri if "h.oik,,
after reading the whole of the evidence, seer: the "of dr,
cause ought to induce 111,7, ie5.?;01,,,
tiff' with damages, which might in solve tne,!` that le : Ai
on, their verdict ougot
0'
verdict would be Or the defendent. found 0 v
The Jury, after a short deliberation!
.....,
defenaint.—The cause ocupied setter' B"P"
they were not sAtistial °I ~,,for-1
1 vinf
othm
of
t obliged
abaretolciAi slandern:
facts
eir
dsoen. .
fpia
oteclowysi
0.1,u:
rks: P ° st
.

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014-'5.4
COL_FLIORc V. oe
verdict for the
converaktion with the plaintiff's wife. frh!rti:ttol' ,j
cadduinlerivket
ry
Plaintiii—Dar in
nagessntaeceleinuCi. sein
Jil'4l‘lic co.q r"t'llsf

,lIJ
0,110,1'
BIRTOS. „A of 11*
On 'Monda, at Wratting Park; tho-10") , fu.
Es_ll2 of a sony and heir. dv of Ilta"
Yesterday, in Arlington-street, the 1,4- •
Esq., of a atilhborn

the 19th inst., 3114aAnitIbiterCtur-ib'irt'7lllll:s..ol'i
Thompson, of Athendone, county of Wa
daughter or E. N. Thornton, of genuileoui;i.
On Thursday, th - inst., at St. „1".80.0A"
lkir. Wm. Stannard, of Charlas.streCtt
Sarah Child, • of Bermondsey.

f
Printed
and Published for the
Office- No. 112, Strand, by J.