The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-21 00:00:00

TILE MORD- AUNT DIVORCE CASE. solicitor asked her what she knew about Lady inbirdatnit,
and she told him this. She did not mention the letter
FOURTH JJAY._ under the pincushion at first, because she did not want to
, Satunnah ' e7.l)°%' L'lrl'Y Mordaunt more than she could help. The
• butler induced her to tell it. (Laughter.) When Lord Cole
The trial of th's case, was continued to-day. Mr. Ser. came from the 10th to the 14th July,lB6B, Sir Geo. Forbes
a
jeant Ballantine, Dr. , Spinks, Q.C., and Mr. Inderwick,nd Lady Louisa Scott were staying in the house. Did not
think she had said before to-day that the letter from the
appeared for the petitioner ; Dr. Deane, Q.C„ Mr. Archi- Tower was destroyed. Told Mr. Ha es that she did
bald, and Mr. Searle were for the respondent, Lady Mor- not see it again after shelving it to the butler.
daunt ; Sir John Karslake, Q.C., and Mr. Jenne watched His Lordship : Then that was false.
Cross-examination continued : During the first fortnight
her Lady
the case on behalf of Sir F. Johnstone ; and Mr. Lord for atter confinement Mordaunt did not care for
Lord Cole. the child. Afterwards she took it sometimes. On the
~ .
The court was again crowded to excess, the extraorcii- second or third day she asked witness who the child was
nary disclosures made on Friday having, if possible
. like, and when witness replied that it was like her I ship, she seemed pleased.
lady-
increased the interest of the public in the case. - [ In reply to further questions, the witness said she was
At the sitting of the Court, I 'seldom with her ladyship when anybody else was present.
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, alluding to a question put by She did not rememher anyone saying that her ladyship
lizee_ unreasonableexa ne orders.
his Lordship on the previous evening, stated that it ma ga
d : Lady Mordaunt told her Capt. Farquhar's
not intended to call his Royal Highness the Prince of reeiment was stationed at the Tower.
Wales to prove the letters put in unless it was absolutely To the Judge :On the last day before Lady Mordaunt
necessary. There was another matter of some importance left Walton she assumed silence with witness, who said it
which he had to mention. After hearing the evidence of wail fi)t fno use to try to deceive her; and her ladyship then
s was difficult to know what to do. Witness did not
sir James Simpson and Dr. Gull in reference to the in- man that the deception was pretending to be insane, and
sanity of Lady Mordaunt, he felt it to be his duty to do- caild not explain clearly what she meant.
sirs the medical men who had been in attendance on her at The evidence of Mr. Haynes, the solicitor, taken before
altrC(i.allaghan, was read ; the witness being too ill to
her confinement to see Lady Mordaunt, and report on her
condition. They both went down to see her ladyship Henry Bird, the butler, was next examined, and said he
and from their report he thought it right to state that he hid been in Charles Mordaunt's family for thirty-five
should not be in a position to contradict the evidence of mrsni Hen spoke of the intimacy between Lady Mor-
i C tain Farquhar • and the visits of Sir F
the medical gentlemen called on behalf of the respondent Johnstone. Jessie Clarke sheaved him the letter from.
as to her present state. th 3 Tower. It was in Captain Farquhar's handwriting.
Lord Penzance :Do I understand that you are satisfied He bought copies of the Morning Post of the 9th Septem-
thatbee, 1867, and found the name Captain Farmer in the list
at present this lady is not in her sound mind ?
of arrivals at the Palace Hotel, Buckingham Gate
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine :I do not say that lam satisfied The witness proceeded : During the seasons of.
that she is not in a sound state of mind, but I amsatisfied 1867 and 1868 the Prince of Wales called
at the London residence of Sir Charles Mordaunt,
that I can produce no evidence of sufficient weight to con- His Royal Highness called ve frequently in 1868. He
tradict the testimony of these gentlemen. would come about once a week one week he came twice.
Lord Penzance : Then so far as that point is concerned H' would call in the afternoon about four o'clock, and
you do not wish to prolong the controversy upon it. would stay from an hour to two hours. I received his
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine said that was what he felt it Royal Highness. Sir Charles Mordaunt was at the House
of Commons, and sometimes at Hurlingham pigeon shoot-
his duty to state at the earliest moment. Of course, how- , ing. I received directions from Lady Mordaunt that no
ever the important question as to what state Lady Mor- ? one else was to be admitted while his Royal Highness was
daunt was in from the 30th April mentioned in the issue there. I followed those directions. After Sir Charles left
down to the end of May, remained ; and he wished to ask for Norway I recollect his Royal Highness being at
the opinion of the jury upon that point. He wished to luncheon. lam not quite sure whether it was the
put to the jury the question whether within reasonable same in the following week. There were also present the
time after the serving of the petition upon her she was in sister of Lady Mordaunt and a gentleman. The lady
a fit condition of mind to give instructions to her solicitor. . and gentleman went away, and his Royal Highness
That might be matter of argument afterwards. stayed alone with Lady Mordaunt for a quarter of an
Lord Penzance said they had not touched the point 'of hour or twenty minutes. During the season of 1868 Lord
law yet. But there was another point which must be deter- Cale was a visitor, and came about three times a week ;
mined at some time if the suit was to go on, and that was and more frequently after Sir Charles went to Norway.
as to the condition of this lady's mind during and after her Before that he came when Sir Charles was out.
confinement. The question had been fairly raised whether Lord Penzance : I suppose Sir Charles was rarely at
Lady Mordaunt was or was not at the time of her confine- home in the afternoon.
meat so disordered in her mind as to be irresponsible for I Witness : Very rarely.
what she said and did. He could not help thinking that Examination continued : Sir Charles was in Parliament.
the determination of the jury as to the subsequent state After he left for Norway, Lord Cole and two or three
'of her mind must ultimately depend upon the conclusion other persons dined at the house. All of them went away
they formed as to the former question. What did Dr. at eleven o'clock, except Lord Cole and Lady Mordaunt.
Deane think of this suggestion? i Lerd Cole remained in the drawing room with her. He
Dr. Deane said it was very difficult to dismiss from the le% about a quarter to one o'clock. That was on the 27th
Mind the admitted guilt of a woman, and if the jury of June. Between November and December, 186 S, Sir F.
came to the conclusion that when she made these accusa- I Johnstone was at Walton. He and Lady Mordaunt
tions against other people, she was of sound mind, there would be together, while the rest were out shooting or
would be a tremendous standing point against the co hunting.
respondents, which would be unfair to them before they The witness added that after her confinement Lady
had had an opportunity of being heard. It was now ad- Mordaunt talked to h'm rationally, and had done so in
an:tted that Lady Mordaunt could give no explanation Ail:east, when he saw her at Worthing. He was with her
whatever. If she were of sound mind she might explain at Bickley.
the whole of the transactions which had been described. In cross-examination, witness said her ladyship was not
_ Lord Penzance said he did not throw out the suggestion so cheerful at Bickley as before her confinement.
in the expectation that the learned counsel would come She wandered about the house in the evening, between
to an immediate determination with regard to so weighty
a matter. He hoped they would consider it, and if the - . ten and eleven o'clock. Once she came into his bedroom
, while he was writing there. She was in her night-dress.
came to a conclusion before the case went to the jury 't
wauld be in time. i After some hesitation, the witness said he should not have
th,ught that any woman in her right mind, would have
Dr. Deane observed that, with regard to Serjeant Bal- done that. He had his doubts whether she was sane, and
lantine's proposition, it was a great hardship, and indeed his deubts about the matter continued after this
an injustice, that the persons who had now at length come occurrence. Sometimes he thought she was sham-
to the conclusion that Lady Mordaunt was not of sound m'ng. At the luncheon party to which he had
mind should not be called, because he was thus deprived referred, the Prince of Wales, Mr. Arthur Montague,
of an opportunity of ascertaining when they arrived at and Lady Morduant's sister were present.
that opinion, and what were the reasons for it. Re-examined by Mr. Serjeant Ballantine : When Lady
Lord Penzance : You say it is an injustice that the Mordaunt came to his room he said, " Why are you not
other side are not going to call witnesses upon whom you in bed, my lady ? " She laughed • her maid came, and
think you might make a very successful assault if they she went away. If she had no motive for that he should
came. (Laughter.) But it is always competent to an suppose she was not in her senses. Next day he asked her
an enemy if he think proper to withdraw. whether she remembered where she had been the night
Dr. Deane : Yes, but if his withdrawing enables him to before, and she said " Yes ;it was a mistake."
take up a better position, I wish to prevent it. Alfred Brett, who was employed at the Palace Hotel,
(Laughter.) * Buckiig
r's mime
Gate, in 1867 proved that Captain
Lord Penzance : Remember, he does not withdraw from Fq
the position on the record. I think you would be entitled a
mistakerUi la
was discovered. ew
aa entered
.
to his going back from the issue. It may be a source of " Farmer " until the
George Jefferies, keeper of the hall-book at the same
regret to you that the enemy will not fight longer, so that hotel, gave evidence on the same point.
you might slaughter him—(laughter)—but he' simply Frederick Johnson, footman to Sir Charles Mordaunt,
recedes so far as to pronounce you victorious, - - deposed that in 1867 and 1868 Captain Farquhar was a
' Dr. Deane : Then I will accept the victor y frequent visitor. On one occasion, in 1868, witness, going
At this point, Lord Penzance said he had received from to the morning-room,
ando when he wentrning-room,heardfound a noiseasof theiorrustling
the architect a communication stating that the gallery of esda u
t andof
dr.
Captain Farquhar there. Her ladyship looked confused,
the court was not capable of holding an unlimited number
of people ; and, therefore until a proper survey had been and said he should not come in without knocking.
made, he should direct that no persons other than those Another time witness found them together alone. They
then in the gallery should be admitted. had the carving tools. He went in without knocking,
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, who sat almost directly under and her ladyship told him he ought not. The witness went
the gallery, suggested that it should be cleared altog,ether. on to say :In February, 1868, I went with Lady Mor-
(Laughter.) daunt to the Alhambra, and saw Capt. Farquhar there.
Lord Penzance said it would be optional with the per. He came down to the door. Lady Mordaunt went in a
sans in the gallery whether they remained in it or not ; he 'hired brougham. There was nobody with her in the car-
did not gather that the gallery was likely to be in danger riage. Lady Kinnoul was of the party. She came in her
if it were not crowded. ca rage. We left when it was over, at 12 o'clock. Captain
Sir Charles Mordaunt, the petitioner, was se-called at I Farquhar got into the brougham, and drove part of the
the request of Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, and deposed that way with Lady Mordaunt, and she wished him to he put
in the list of persons whom he named to Lady Mordaunt down near St. James's. He was put down near it.
when asking her to clear innocent men, he included James's-street. Ido no not know where hachambers were.
In the season of 1867 his Royal Highness the Prince of
Captain Farquhar, but he got no answer from her. She
appeared conscience-stricken, and from that he drew his V Tales called when I was in the hall. That was the only
own conclusion.
time I saw him. His Royal Highness came at five and
Cross-examined by
Dr. Deane :In her first admission left at ten minutes to seven. I havedelivered some letters
Lady Mordaunt spoke of the Prince of Wales, Lord Cole, from her ladyship for the Prince at Marlborough House,
Sir Frederick Johnstone, and others, but did not name and I have posted other:;.
Captain Farquhar.
Cross-examined : When the Prince called at Lady Kin-
Jessie Clarke, lady's maid to Lad Wool's her ladyship had been unwell, but was then better.
Lad- Mordaunt from the
time of her marriage to the time s. e left Walton Hall, The witness referred to :a paper, and on being interro-
was called to give, evidence as to adultery with Captaia gated by the Jud,, e, said the paper contained extracts
he had from his diary, and oth or statements which put
Farquhar.
Lord Penzance said he feared they were now exceeding down that day.
the limits of the inquiry as to the sanity of Lady Mor-
Lord Penzance told him he must not refer to extracts.
daunt.
Re-examined—The greater part of the letters to the
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine said the question was whether Prince were sent when her ladyship was staying in Bel-
sufficient was implied in the silence of the respondent grave-square. None of the people of the establishment
when asked by Sir Charles about Captain Farquhar to knew of them.
justify this evidence. To the Judge—They were not given to him with any
Lord Penzance : That is, that silence gives consent ? secrecy.
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine : Yes ; whether her declining Mr. Serjeant Ballantine here stated to the court that he
to answer is evidence to go to the jury of her guilt. had received a letter from the solicitor of the Prince of
Dr. Deane said he was not concerned about Captain Wales stating that he had no letters to produce in the
Farquhar, and, therefore, could neither consent nor object case.
to this matter being gone into. Mrs. Coborn, the housekeeper, was examined at con-
ite ug : If you don't object, there is no reason w Y siderable length, and described the conduct of Lady Mer-
should not go on. h' daunt after her confinement as that of a sane person.
The witness then deposed to suspicious circumstances General Arbuthnot deposed to meeting Lady Mor-
which she had observed while Captain Farquhar was on a daunt at the house of his daughter, Mrs. Murray, in
visit to Lady Mordaunt in 1867, during which time they October, 1869. He found her very cheerful and agreeable
were very much together. On the- 7th November, 1867 and perfectly sensible and composed.
she came up to London with Lady Mordaunt. They Cross-examined : Lady Mordaunt did not hesitate in
stayed at the Buckingham Palace Hotel, and on the night I her speech. Should say there was not a minute's silence
of their arrival she saw Captain Farquhar on the landing while he was in the room. He did not monopolise the
near Lady Mordaunt's sitting-room, which was not conversation, because when he met a pretty lady he liked
far from the bedroom. The next day, Lady Mordaunt to hear he; talk. (Laughter.)
went out at six, and had not returned when witness went. Mr. Solomon, occulist, of Birmingham, who saw the
to bed after ten o'clock. Her ladyship told her not to eyes of the the child soon after its birth,
wait for her. as she should not want
her. After they re- said it was suffering from purulent opthalinia.
But there were no appearances in the diagnosis of a child
tuned home on the Saturday to Walton, Lady Mord i t
became ill. When, after a week, she was able to leave to distinguish between specific and non-specific disease.
her room, witness found a letter, which was not in an Nor was there anything in the treatment to indicate the
envelope, but under a pincushion on her
to the
table.l cause of disease.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine announced that there would be,
Witness read the letter, and returned it
three other witnesses to be called fel. the petitioner.
where she found it. She shelved it to thee butlerpe
afterwards. Eventually her ladyship burnt the letter. Dr. Deane declined to say whether he should produce
The letter was dated from the Tower of London, on the further evidence.
Saturday. The writer began by addressing his darling, The case was then adjourned until Wednesday next.
and said, " I arrived here this morning at a quarter to
nine, very tired and sleepy as you may suppose." ose " He
went on to say he had seen the Post of that
morning,. and
found that his name was inserted amongst the arrivals at
the Palace Hotel as Farmer instead of Farquhar ; adding, .
" so it is all right, darling, for I was afraid Charlie would
be suspicious if he saw my name with the arrivals at the
hotel with yours." He said something else about sending
;carving tools, and signed himself "Yours, Arthur." Witness
chewed the letter to Bird on the Monday after she found it.
In January, 1868, Captain Farquhar again visited Wal-
ton, and witness noticed the same circumstances as on the
previous visits. They were not visible in his absence. In
the autumn of 1868 Captain Farquhar came again. About
that time witness on one occasion was in her ladyship's
bedroom, when Captain Farquhar came in. He did not
know she was there ; but when he saw her he walked to
She toilet table, and took some flowers. When Sir Charles
Mordaunt was in Parliament he was in the habit of at-
tending the House in the afternoon. On these occa-
sions witness had known his Royal Royal Highness the
Prince Wales
of to come to the town residence frequently.
In the season of 1867 he came two or three times only • .hut'.
in the season of 1868 his Royal Highness came morefre-
quently. When his
...nßoyal Highness called he went into
the. drawing-room. In season of 1868 he generally
came about four in the afternoon, and stayed usually an
hour and a half, and sometimes two hours. Lady Mor-
daunt was always at home on those occasions, and his
Royal Highness saw her. There was nobody else in the
drawing-room with him but Lady Mordaunt. His Royal
Highness did not come in his own private carriage. On
these occasions Lir Charles was not at home. In March,
1868, witness attended Lady Mordaunt on a visit to Lady'
liennoul in Belgraee_equare. The Prince of Wales came
to visit her there once, when Sir Charles was at Walton.
That was on the fiunday. The Prince saw Lady Moe-
daunt in the drawing-room. Witness did not know
whether anybody else was there, as she saw his Royal
nighness coming out as she went in.
Lord Penzance told witness she must only speak of
what she knew from personal observation.
Examination continued : Witness was acquainted with
the handwriting of his Royal Highnessbecause Lady Mor-
launt had shown her one of the Prince's letters. She had
delivered several letters to Lady Mordaunt in that
handwriting—six or seven. She had given letters to the
footman Johnson to t, addressed by her ladyship to his'
Royal Highness. That was in 1868. She gave two or
three. In the summer of 1868 Lord Cole was in the habit
of calling. He came most frequently when Sir Charles
was out m the afternoon. When Sir Charles went to
Prorway in 1868 it was arranged that the servants were to
go down to Walton in a week i but they did not go until
three weeks afterwards. During that time Lord Cole was
in the habit of calling to see Lady Mordaunt. Witness
and Lady Mordaunt went down to Walton on the 7th of
July. When they got to Paddington, they found Lord
Cole on the platform. The train went as far as Reading
without stopping. Lord Cole got the tickets, and put,
Ludy Mordaunt in a first class carriage, standing by fhel

THE LETTERS FROM THE PRINCE OF
WALES.

The Birmingham Post publishes the following letters to
Lady Mordaunt fr)m his Royal Highness "Albert
Eli arl"

Sandringham, King's Lynn, January 13, 1867.
My dear Lady Merdannt,—l am quite shocked never
to have answered your kind letter, written some time ago,
and for the very pretty muffeless, which are very useful
this cold weather. I had no idea where you have been
s'aying since your marriage, but Francis Knollys told me
that you are in Warwickshire. I suppose you will be
up in London for the opening of Parliament, when I
hope I may perhaps have the pleasure of seeing you and
of making the acquaintance of Sir Charles. I was in
London for only two nights, and returned here on Satur-
day. The rails were so slippery that we thought we
should never arrive here. There has been a heavy fall of
snow here, and we are able to use our sledges, which is
capital fun.--Believe me yours ever sincerely,
1.1413E14! EI) WAR.

Sandringham; King's Lynn, Dec. 5.
My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thanks for your
letter, which I received this evening, and I am very glad
to hear that you like the ponies, but I hope they will be
well driven before you attempt to drive them, as I know
they are fresh. They belonged originally to the Princess
Mary, who drove them for some years, and when she
married, not wanting them just then, I bought them from
her. lam not surprised that you have had no hunting
lately, as the frost has made the ground as hard as iron.
We hope, however, to be able to hunt to-morrow, as a
thaw has set in. We killed over a thousand head on
Tuesday, and killed forty woodcocks to-dz4y. Lover has
been in great force, and as bumptious as ever. Blaudford
is also here, so you can imagine what a row goes on. On
Monday next I go to Buckenham, and I am indeed very
sorry that we shall not meet there. I am very sorry to
hear that you have been seedy, but hope that you are now
all right again.—Ever yours very sincerely,
ALBERT EDWARD.

Sandringham, King's Lynn, November 16.
My dear Lady Mordauntz—l must apologise for not
having answered your last kind letter, but accept my best
thanks for it now. Since the 10th I have been here at Sir
William Knolly's house, as I am building a totally new
one. I am here "en garcon," and we have had
very good shooting. The Duke of Cambridge,
Lord Suffolk, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord de Grey,
Sir Frederick Johnstone, Chaplin, General Hall
Captain (Jam) Bukley, Major Grey, and myself compose
the party ; and the great Francis arrived on Saturday,
but he is by no means a distinguished shot. Sir Frederick
Johnssone tells me he is going to stay with you to-morrow
for the Warwick races, so he can give you the best account
of us. This afternoon, after shooting, I return to London,
and to-morrow night the Princess, our three eldest
children, and myself start for Paris, where we shall
remain a week, and then go straight to Copenhagen,
where we spend Christmas, mid the beginnin of January
we start on a 10n,,,,er trip. We shall go to Venice, and
thence by sea to Alexandria, and up the Nile as far as we
can get ; and later, to Constantinople, Athens, and home
by Italy, and I don't expect we shall be back again before
April. I fear, therefore I shall not see yon for a long
time, but trust to find you, perhaps, in London, on our
return. If you should have time, it will be very kind to
write to me sometimes. Letters to Marlborough House, to
be forwarded, will always reach me. I hope you will
remain strong and well, and wishing you a very pleasant
winter, I remain, your most sincerely,
ALBFRT EDWARD.

coot. until Just as the train was about to start, when he
got into the carriage himself. At Reading witness, who
was in another carriage, saw his lordship on the platform,
`and the train went on without him. The butler and the
other servants did not reach Walton until the 10th
'and Lord Cole came down the same day, remaining from
the Friday to the Sunday following. He left on the 14th,
•
and Sir Charles came home on the next day. Witness
knew Sir F. Johnstone as a visitor to Walton. In
December 1848 witness was with her ladyship at the
Alexundsa Hotel, at Knightsbridge. The Duke and
Duchess of Athol were staying there, but on the night of
th:: 29th, when they had left, she saw Sir F. Johnstone
le bviag her ladyship's sitting-room about twelve o'clock.
While Lady Mordaunt was at Walton, after her confine-
ment, witness saw nothing to lead her to suppose that her
ladyship wa.; not of sound mind.
The witness was cross-examine 1 by Dr. Deane, and said
she, first stated anything about Captain Farquhar in the
autumn of 1867. She spoke rot' it to the butle,-, end the
m.e_ter was often the subject of ecaversatioa-petween
all...tile. _butler and_ thq.hQuiekee.wr. zi.r.„xfaxiez tat

Marlborough House, October 13.
My dear Lady Mordaunt,—Many thank; for your kiwi
later, which I received just before we left Dunrobin, and
I have bean so busy here that I have been unable to
auswcr it before. I ang glad_to hoar_ that you are goliiiill-
;:zz. at_ Walion,.,anct kone YOU. Imband had zood