The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-29
The VERDICT IN THE FORREST DIVORCE CASE.
Opinions of the Press,
SC, SC, sc.
THE FORREST CASE.

TFrom the New NorK sun, January q
This protfacted trial was brought to a conclusion.
yesterday by verdict in favor of the plaintiff on
all the issues, and awarding to her 80 900 year
for alimony A very large portion OF the com nu-
nifty viii regard this as an extraordinary result, not
sustained by the evidence; large portion will look
upon II as just what 1t should be- and perhaps the
largest portion of the three will regard 1t with per
feet Ind Terence. The amount of alimony looks a
niue sindict,ve, or else as If the jury approved Of
the course OF life which, according to SO ne OF the
witnesses, the plaintiff seems to have led and wish.
ed to give her the means Of keeping it up Certainly
they have declared their belief that Mrs Forrest
has been the intended victim Of plots or cons2racies
coo base to be readily conceived of
But the verdict is Of very little Importance as re-
CARDS the real struggle between the parties for the
lnry were only called in as matter OF legal form.
The cause has not in point Of fact, been tried be-
fore them, but before the community. The evil
dence has not been confined to the issues which the
jury were professedly sworn to try, but has been
permitted to sweep over all CREATION and to draw in
the character of every body, dead alive, who had
ever had anything TO do with either Of the parties.
AL this was for the purpose Of influencing, not the
verdict OF the jury, but that Of the community
And what has been gained in this respectl In O ar
opinion, nothing al all.
The cause has been on trial before the public for
q couple Of years. All the material facts mad been
published and commented on in the newspapers
and AL who took an interest in the controversy lad
formed an opinion, according to their view OF the
tactS, long before the trial came on. They had
taken sides and we doubt whether any Of them have
changed IN consequence Of the developeme rs made
before the courts. Their respective opinions and
feelings have only been rendered more intense by
tho excite ment Of the trial The friends Of Mrs
Forrest, ana those who hated her husband. will
congratulate her upon her good fortune and her
three thousand year. and will cling closer TO her
than ever. On the other hand, the friends Of Mr.
Forrest viii regard him as victim of perjury and
OF strongly biased court, and will regard MIN with
more enthusiasm than ever. When he next appears
in the theatre bis friends will secure him such tri
umph as no actor ever received before.
Such, then, is the result and the only result. OF
trial upon which so much time has been wasted. 10
every aspect OF the matter il is painful to con.em
plato 1T Mr. Forrest, as an American, and as the
first OF living tragedians, had, and still has troops
OF admirng trier DIS For ye he enjoyed uninter-
rupted domestic happiness. a quarrel between
him and his wife finally arises, which is dragged be-
tore the public and after prejudcGs are excited
which render just satisfactory verdict next to
impossible, it is brought into court and tried as if
before town meeting The court is flooded with
perjury the rules of evidence are set at nauzht
and what is called q legal investigation is permitted
to take as wide q range as personal or political
discussion before al election Inc character of the
judiciary the character Of the parties the character
OF the witnesses and OF all concerned, if net greatly
damaged certainly cannot be materially elevated by
such 'selee Long may it be before we have ano.
ther like it,
HusBANDs, TAKE CARE OF YOUR WIVES - WIVES
NEVER MIND YOUR HUSBANDS
From the National Democrat, Jan %
CANDID rejection upon the probable consequence
OF the result of the Forrest case produces the con-
viction that morality Will not be essentially pro.
NOTED by the verdict Of the jury. Sympathy for
Mrs Forrest, and perhaps political feeling, had
something to do il the rendition Of the verdict
We did not publish any Of the disgusting testimony
on the trial, and have no prejudces in the matter
But the complete generation, by the jury, Of Mrs.
Forrest Of all wrong, can have no other than evil
tendency in social life. Unless the testimony on
the part OF the defence complete mass of per-
Jury, taen II will be difficult to account for the YER
DICT OF the jury upon any legitimate and fair u ode
OF reasoning. Many we'll meaning and sensible
persons, OF both sexes will regard the verdict as
premium paid to RIGHTEOUSNESS, and t. conduct
grossly infringing the prophecies of arried life
Remember, that We assume that the proof on the
trial rendered it certain that both parties are highly
censu!abie for their of life Bat the verdict
rs based upon the entire innocence Of one party and
the guilt Of the other. We again repeat, that no
such conclusion warranted by the testimony:
and II We mistake not, action in public senti.
ment Will harmonic with this view of the case
The conduct Of Mrs. Forrest, during the absence
her husband can never meet with the appro baton
OF an intelligent and virtuous community Such i
our opinion drawn from the testimony in this case
The proof of the guilt Of Forrest was circun
staotia!, Though strong enough to convince uso
crime. The guilt of Mrs Forrest was both cir
cumstautial aud positive; and weighing ali the
probabilities Of perjury, there is enough OF both to
induce US to believe that she is not innocent A
verdict that affirmed the guilt Of BOTH with resaon-
able a!imory, If such a verdict could have been
rendered. would have been uor iust