The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-20 00:00:00

LA TT' INTELLIGENCE—(Thos Day).

DIVORCE COURT.
(Before Sir C. Cresswell and a Special Jury.)
COMPTON V. COMPTON AND BARING-THE THEATRICAL

CASE.

The hearing of this case was resumed this morning, and
the evidence for the defence was proceeded with.
Miss Julia Turner, the first witness called, stated that
she was the sister of Mrs. Compton. There were two sis-
ters besides Mrs. Compton and herself, who were married.
One of these was Mrs. Hunt, at whose house Mrs. Compton
first met her husband. At the time of her marriage her
sister was only 14 years old. She heard nothing of the
marriage until the day before it took place, and her parents
were not acquainted with it. After the marriage her
sister went to lodgings at South Moßon-street. Up
to the year 1846 they were not very well off.
They were on very fair, but not affectionate terms. Her
sister went on the stage first in 1849 as ballet dancer. In
1851 she had an engagement at Covent Garden, and
another in the same year at Vauxhall Gardens. She used
always to go to the latter by herself, and an officer used to
be with her there frequently. In the winter of 1851 she
was engaged in the ballet at the Olympic, and the follow-
ing year at the Adelphi and the Lyceum. Long before
that year, witness, who had been on the stage as a
dancer, was acquainted with a gentleman who
used to visit her. In that year she wont to
live at 209, Piccadilly, and the Comptons went with her
She occupied the second floor, and they the third floor. Did
not know that Mr. Compton was aware of the connection
she had formed ; but he was acquainted with it from 1856.
She had discontinued going on the stage, and had no means
of her own. Mr. Compton's temper was most sullen and
disagreeable. There were very few friends in the
habit of visiting, and she remembered them going
out together into company only once, and he
never took her sister out for a day's pleasure. She
and her sister were in the habit of going out to Richmond,
Greenwich, and other places, and they were accompanied
by the gentleman whom her sister knew. Colonel Baring,
the brother of Captain Baring, used also to accompany
them, but only in the character of an acquaintance. They
used to remain sometimes as late as 11 o'clock at night,
and she never heard that Mr. Compton made any inquiry
as to where her sister was, and he appeared quite indifferent
about the matter. Her sister, Mrs. Compton, used
to dress very expensively, and had handsome jewels,
which were not the gift of her husband, and
she never heard that he had made any inquiries as to
where they came from. Mr. Compton accused her of
leaving her sister, but they continued to go out together
afterwards. She remembered Mr. and Mrs. Gaston Mur-
ray coming to supper at the house about two years ago,
and Miss Alrdidge was also present. With the exception of
Mr. Compton they all supped in her room. She sent Miss
Aldridge to wake him, but he would not come down. His con-
duct to"" ards her sister was always sullen, and a favourite
expression towards her:was—" brainless idiot." Her sister
was absent for some time occasionally from London, and her
husband only visited her once, and that was when she was
at Cambridge. She was acquainted with Captain Baring
for about 11 years, and he was present with Colonel Baring
on the excursions to which he had referred, and the gentle-
man whom she mentioned was also present. After hersister's
acquaintance with the gentleman was discontinued, about
two years ago, Captain Baring's visits to the house in
Piccadilly became more frequent.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Macauley—lt
was about 1852 or 1853 when she took her first speaking
engagement, and she did not afterwards return to the
ballet. She corrected herself with respect to the age of her
sister, who was 16 not 14 years old at the time of her mar-
riage. She remembered some time ago Mr. Compton ob-
jected to his wife's going to the Isle of Wight, and
there was a quarrel. She said that there could be
no harm, as they werelto be accompanied by his
brother, Mr. John Compton. He did not speak
to witness for several days afterwards. Mrs. Stirling, the
actress, frequently visited at their lodgings in Piccadilly.
She did not know that Mr. Compton interfered with her
sister's engagements, which were made without reference
to him. When her sister purchased an interest in the St.
James's Theatre a considerable portion of her money was
lodged in a bank in Mr. Compton's name. Mr. Compton
was about twelve years in the Colonial Land and Emi-
gration Office, and was employed as copying clerk at Mr.
Gurney's. Mr. Compton did not always come to see
them home from the theatre, and when they came home
they used frequently to find Mr. Compton there before, so that
his not going for them was not caused by his being detained
late at his employment at Mr. Gurney's. Her sister danced
for about a fortnight at Vauxhall in 1851. She danced
there in consequence of having received an engagement
from Mr. Wardell, the proprietor of the Vauxhall Gardens.
Mr. Compton was not absent from London at the time, and
was aware of her engagement at the gardens. Her sister
first formed the acquaintance of the gentleman whom she
had already mentioned behind the scenes. The gentleman
with whom witness was acquainted used not to go behind
the scenes. After Mrs. Compton left her husband she went
with Captain Baring on the continent. She did not know
of her sister having slept with Captain Baring `u"vi.it to nor... D.,,T L., 1050. -vv nen nor sister was at Dublin
and Liverpool letters constantly passed between her and
Captain Baring.
In re-examination she said that the speculation in St.
James's Theatre was a failure, and her sister lost all her

money.
Eliza Aldridge, a chorus singer at the Adelphi, said she
was acquainted with the respondent for several years.
Since 1852 she had been in the habit of visiting Mr. and
Mts. Compton three or four times a week in Piccadilly.
she had seen him sulk with her very often, and he con-
tinued in that temper for nearly a fortnight when she was
staying in that house about four or five years ago. She
corroborated the evidence of the preceding witness as to his
having refused to come down to supper when Mr. and Mrs.
Gaston Murray were there, and he said he did not wish to
associate with a set of low actors.
The jury found a verdict for the petitioner, and awarded
£6OO damages,