The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-24 00:00:00

LAT INTELLIGENCE.—dpi 23.
4e.

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell.)
BARING AT. GORDON.CRIM. COIL-DAMAGES, 3,000/.
This was a writ of inquiry to assess the damages
in an action brought in one of the superior courts
against the defendant for having had criminal con-
versation with the plaintiff's wife. Judgment had
been suffered to go by default, and the defendant
did not now appear.
Mr. Bovill, Q.C., and Mr. Unthank appeared for
the plaintiff.
Mr. Unthank said the declaration set forth that
the defendant bad debauched the plaintiff's wife,
and the damages were estimated at 3,0002. The
plaintiff was William Frederick Baring, and the
defendant George Tomline Gordon.
Mr. Bovill then opened the case. He said it was
one of a very painful class—painful under any cir-
cumstances ; but he was glad to be able to inform
the jury that they would be spared from the most
distre2sing part of such an inquiry, the proof of the
fact alleged in the declaration, that the defendant
had had criminal conversation with the plaintiff's
wife, for it was admitted by the defendant—indeed
it was beyond denial—and the only question the
jury would have to determine was the amount of
damages the plaintiff should recover under the cir-
cumstances which would be placed before them.
The plaintiff in the.action was a son of Mr. Henry
Baring, brother of Lord Ashburton, and in 1845,
in November, he was married to a lady, then just
about of age, whose conduct was the subject of these
proceedings. She was the daughter of Sir Richard
Jenkins ; she had fortune and position, combined
with personal attractions, a refined intelligence, and
great accomplishments. They resided in Paris for
several years after their marriage, and on returning
to this country they lived at Guildford, from which
place they went in 1852 to reside at Eaton Hall,
near Retford, in Nottinghamshire. They had two
children—one a boy now about 11 years of age, the
other a girl about 8. After they had settled in
Nottinghamshire they mixed in the beat society of
the county, and visited and received visits from
the gentry of the vicinity of their residence,
and associated with many persons of rank and
station. The defendant resided at a short distance
from Eaton Hall, and was a person of some means
and, position, holding the commission of a captain
iu the Nottinghamshire Militia, or Sherwood Fo-
restos. An acquaintance sprung up between him
and the plaintiff. They frequen ly visited each other.
They became most intimate friends, went out to-
gether to enjoy the sports of shooting and hunting,
&c., and visits were frequently exchanged between
Mrs. Baring and Mrs. blordon. That was in 1852,
and such state of things continued down to March
in the present year. The plaintiff and bis wife had
always lived upon terms of the happiest endear-
ment, and in the enjoyment of every -comfort and
luxury, which affluence and station could (rive, un-
til the unhappy discovery was made which led to
these proceedings, which had destroyed a life of
happincss to Mr. Baring, had sent to ruin and dis-
grace a woman upon whom the least suspicion had
never fallen,' and reduced her children to be per-
haps worse than orphans. In March the plaintiff
found that Captain Gordon, who had . professed
so much friendship for him, had, whilst
enjoying his hospitality, seduced his wife. On the
11th of that month Capt. Gordon and Mrs. Baring

left Nottinghamshire and came to London tegetber,
under circumstances of the deepest distress, not
only to the plaintiff, bat to Mrs. Gordon, who was
at that time in a condition which rendered the
matter a great deal more painful. In the greatest
agony of mind Mrs. Gordon went to a lady, named
Huntsman, a friend both of her and Mrs. Baring,
and with that lady she came to London. Mr.
Huntsman, who was a friend of the plaintiff, fol-
lowed them, and he and his wife and Mrs. Gordon
traced the defendant to the Great Western Hotel,
where he was tang breakfast with Mrs. Baring
when they arrived. Mrs. Baring rose from the
table, and when Mr. Huntsman went in he found
Mrs. Gordon in a fainting condition on her knees
When he was appealed to he refused to leave Mrs.
Baring, and such was the shock to Mrs. Gordon
that it well-nigh proved fatal, she being then close
upon confinement. That adultery had taken place
had b3eu admitted—there could have been no an-
swer to that. Mrs. Baring went to her mother,
Lady Jenkins, and the jury would have to assess
the damages which Captain Gordon should pay far
the great wrong he had done in destroying a life
of happiness Witich the plaintiff had been blessed
with. He could not conceive or suggest one single
circums'ance palliative of Captain Gordon's con-
duct. Re,:oiveil into the plaintiff's house as a
bosom friend, accompanying the plaintiff in shoot-
ii4g, excursions to Scotland and otiv.r places; he had.
&I.:lased the friendship with which he had been re-
garded, violated the generous hospitality which it
had been the plaintiff's pleasure to afford him ; he
had brongitt disgia::e upon the plaintiff and his
faintly, broken up a happy life, and bad sent this
unhappy lady to a positien of infamy and disgrace.
No amount of damages could compensate a plain-
tiff in a case like this. The verdict of the jury was
sought, as they would have surmised, with a view
to ulterior proceedings, and he believed that had
not the damages been set at 3,0001., the jury would
readily have awarded more than that amount. Capt.
Gordon had five children, and he repeated that he
could not seetanything Whatever to palliate his con-
duct.
The certificate of the marriage, which took place
at Par's, was then put in, and also a settlement
executed on the marriage of 8,0001.
Hem y Huntsman examined—l reside at West
Retford Hall, Nottinghamshire, and have done so
some time. I was living there when the plaintiff
and his wife took poseession of Eaton Hall as their
residence. This was in the autumn of 1852. Eaton
Hall is the plaintiff's present residence, and is
about two miles from mine. After their arrival,
myself and Mrs. Huntsman visited them, and the
intimacy was Continuedbetweentts and Mrs. Baring
until this distres,sing matter was known. Mr.
. Baring, I should think, is about five or six and
thirty years of age. Mrs. Baring is somewhat
younger. They have two children, a son and
daughter—one 11, and the other about 8 years of
age. They lived in good style, and of course had
horses, carriages, and servants requisite for their
establishment. Captain and Mrs. Gordon lived
.abont 9 or 10 miles from Retford ; the two families,
Barings and Gordons, were on terms of the closest
intimacy within a few months of Mr. Baring corning
there. Capt. Gordon is about 34 years of age. They
have four children living, but have had mere. They
lived in good society. Capt. Gordon was a huntisg
man, and associated with the best sccietyof the coun-
ty. Mr. Baring and his wife alwayslived very hap-
pily together ; it seemed his pleasure togratifyher in
any wish she might express. He was extremely
attentive to her. He was once absent for six weeks
when he went to America; and once he went to Mar-
seilles to meet his wife's sister on her way from India.
I wt nt to see him off by the steamer for America.
These were the only two occasions on which he was
absent for any time. On the 11th of March a com-
munication was made to me. Mrs. Gordon and
Mrs. Huntsman came to London by the express
train, and I followed them by a later train at 12
&clock. At four in the morning I found them at
the Great Northern Hotel. . Thera had not been
the least possible suspicion of Mrs. Baring before
that time. From inquiries I made of a porter, I
learnt that Capt. Gerdon and Mrs. Baring had gone
from the Great Northern Railway to the Great
Western Hotel. We went there, and having found
Capt. Gorden's room, Mrs. Gordon was ushered in
by a waiter. I remained outside with Mrs. Hunts-
man • and after some little time I went in, when I
saw Mrs. Baring sitting bythe breakfast table. Capt.
Gordon was standing, with his wife on her knees be-
fore him in a fainting state. The scene was painful.
Mrs. Baring rose from the table when I went in. I
desired Mrs. Gordon to retire, as the excitementmight
have been dangerous to one in her condition. Cap-
tain Gordon asked me to let him have five minutes
alone with his wife. Mrs. Baring walked out of
the room. At Mrs. Gordon's desire I consented to
her husband's request. ' In about twenty minutes I
went in, and found her again on her knees. It was
a most distressing scene. She was entreating him
to choose between the two. He refused to go home
with her. Shortly afterwards he left the room, and
seat me a message that he was going away, but
would give me his address, if I bad anything to
write to him about. 1, then took. Mrs. Gordon back
to the Great Northern Hotel. Captain Gordon
visited her in her illness.
Edward Baring—l am one of the firm of Baring
Brothers, and am brother of the plaintiff. I had
ample opportunity cf seeing how Lie and his wife
lived, though they were much in the country and
lin London. When I was in the country I was
mo tly at my sister's, but I know that my brother
lived most happily with his wife, and he had nut
the least doubt or suspicion of her until the disco-
very was made.
The Rev. John Twells—l am rector of Gam-
ston and vicar of Eaton, in Nottinghamshire. As
minister of the parish I knew Mr. and Mrs. Baring
very well—intimately. lam not married. I visited
at their house. There was not a shadow of suspicion
of Mrs. Baring's conduct until this matter was dis-
covered. Mr. and Mrs. Baring lived happily and
harmoniously together. He was very indulgent,
polite, attentive, and considerate.
The Hon. J. Ashley—l have known Mr. and
Mrs. Baring about 4 years. I was in that county
in 1853, 1855, and 1856, and visited them on inti-
mate terms. I also visited at Mrs. Baring's sister's.
The plaintiff and his wife lived, on the very best
' terms that could exist between man and wife.
Henry Milner—l am a banker. I know the par-
ties well, and until this was disosvered there could