The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-29
TIE VERDICT IN THE FORREST CASE.


Inc suspense OF the parties 10 the Forrest divorce
suit AID Of their friends and the public is over
Inc tables have been turned upon the original ac
ouser-he being declared an adulterer while the
LADY IL pronounced innocent, ami endowed with au
income OF IS 0C0 ayear to console her for the loss
OF husband. 1t is not likely that the pecuniary
portion Of the verdict will stand In the first place.
1t doubtful whether the jury had any right to de-
eide the question of alimony; and, in the next
place, supposing them to possess that right. we do
not believe that the Court Of Appeals to which the
case will probably be carried up, would sanction
such Wholesale award.
This trial has afforded, in the course of it's excit
ing details, humlatiDg Development Of the
faults and failings OF poor human nature. Wo to
the character OF the man or woman who comes into
court with unclean lands as witness or principal
IN such suit. Even the purest might well dread
the ordeal: while the guilty, dislodged from every
colgn OF vantage where they hoped to maintain
semblance OF oeceney-must feel inclined to call
upon the rocks and mountains to cover them and
their shame, That Mrs Forrest has passed through
this ordeal unscatheo, we have the declaration
OF twelve respectable citizens, acting under the
solemn responsibility OF oath, and having bet.
Ter opportunities for arriving al just conclusion
on that point than any parties outside. So far we
entirely aequieSce in the verdict But iurymen
are not nfalliole They are not exempt from
Prejudice any more than other men, and where
there is woman ID the cass and that woman il
unjust!y aspersed, the chiyalrous feeling that
prompts them te throw over her the protecting
shield Of justice. ana 70 accord 10 her their warm.
est sympaihies, may unwittiDgly tempt them to an
act Of something ike vnd;ctive retaliation upon
the acouser Jealousy is a fearful passion. Ia
some natures il Is tgDtamoupt TO mad6ess. We
believe that msn with the peculiar ten perament
Of M Forrest IS lot Glder the control Of reason
after be has once become possessed by this demon
passion Mr. Forests mental character Is not
unlike that q the "MOef OF Venice" and he las
been wrought upon not merely by one but BY
dozen lagos ii must he admitted that the fin fling
o. the "CorsUelo letter" ia his wiie's private
drawer, afforded reasonable ground for suspicion
3 " in
bis Wife, purity would not lie shaken by the disco.
very OF suck a missiye under the same oircum.
stances But II i; argues that he lived With Mrs.
Forrest alter the discovery. The satisfactory ex.
panation gwen " the lady doubtless shook his
confidence in the tra,h Of his suspicious HI de.
teEmineJ, II may be supposed, to wait for further
proof before be condemned her Then came the
statements Of hirelings who wished to curry favor
with the rich mantle dark hints of vile toadies
and tycophants who called themselves his friends
the halt.faced innuendoes aud serpent suggestions
OF boon ompaDiors-a all the dam nab e gencies
by which men o. proud yet open nature are made
the tools OF the nearest things that live Finally
and after being "perplexedin the extreme" the
husband became thoroughly possessed with the
Conviction that his ai'e was a wanton. We have
not the slightest doubt that be believed it as firmly
az u he Esd mad ocular dc a onstration At once
nSMlnateo and e1aepeIated--burDiIg under sense
OF supposed injury, and anxious for rcyonQe--he
teaul 70 ian ilto any plan for obtaining proofs
o. the crime which be looked upon ne n 6xei fact
Ils false iIlends were but too ready 10 alont any
AuiIeSI ouo uiJusttAable means TO obtain tor him
IeisasS uonl NAaI he conceived CALLING and sho
pofabje bondage. Nj his ha4ucination. be aairsays
IN these "conspiracics' the excusable means f,r
establifhing in Law what he considered alre,dy
established 10 fact The Jury. we think. aid pot
take this matter into account. They probaIiy
looked upon Forrest as The chief cCnspirator aea1
hs wife, and adopted tie theory Of Der council that
some other cause tbGn belief Ia her guilt III 3uced
him TO wish 70 put her away, Hence they punished
him, by their verdict, for the foul devices Of hi,
hangers. on, and seem 70 have made no allowance
for the IN onomania, under which, for many nonths
he has been unquest0ngbly laboring. His mrd.
nsts for such il Is, lod him into acts Of mprudence
and ex favagsnce which told against him or tho
trial with far more effect than any portion OF the
testimony The bosterousness Of his indignation
Trsjudioed him feartuUy In public opinion, and, We