Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-29
EVENING STAR.
From the I.onJon Daily New

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az 1.q From the Ler,don1 Daily News. 7'
TIE CASE OF PIERCE s BUrLER-RE.
dgr-9 MARKABLR TRIAL. - --
The case Of Pierce Somerset Butler
against the Yiscount Niountgarret, which
has just terminated is remarkable both
for the variety and complication of the
details connected with it, and the magni-
tude of the interests concerned. Ten
thousand year and title furnish tolera-
bly, strong inducements to lawsuit, and
nothing less was involved in the present
instance Mr.. Warren's novel describes
no more extraordinary indents than came
out on the trial which was to decide which
of the parties in the present suit was 30
possess the s.Ten Thousand Year"
in question. The defendant in the suit,
the Viscount Mountgarret, is the SOD OF
Henry Butler, the third son of the eighth
viscount Mountgarret. The plaintiff is
the son of the fourth son, Col. Butler.
He brings the action against his COUSIN on
the score of the illegitimacy of the latter.
Henry Butler, the third son above men,
toned, appears to have been veritabIe
type of the Irish roue of the last century.
lie was extravagant, reckless and hesn-
tiouS. 1t is to be supposed that he pos
sessed all these Irish attractions which
proved SO irresistible half century ago.
His first exploitwas to carry off the wife ofa
MIR. Darlington, whom, however, he very
soon deserted, asit appears that his aim in
these matters was not only love but money.
He then fell in with Mrs. Colebrooke,
possessed, according to the speech of the
plaintiffs counsel, of every charm, every
virtue, and, what was more to Mr. But
ler's purpose, from fl,200 to fl, 200 a
year. The fascinating Irishman made,
however, as short work with Mrs. Cole
brooke's virtue as he probably did with
her money. As the property of the lady,
who was widow, was to be forfeited in
the event Of . second marriage, this
highly honorable gentleman preferred
making her harlot, and his possible fu-
ture progeny illegitimate, rather than
marry her and lose the income. The
fruit of this intimacy was q child, since
dead. Sometime afterwards another child
was born, who died likewise. In the
course Of the year 1910, the lady re-,
moved to Edinburgh, along with Henry
Butler. for the purpose, as alleged by the
plaintiff, of having Scotch form of mar
riage gone through. Whether Butler
repented, or whether he absented himself
for the purpose Of indulging in any of
his tavoritc. pursuits, as suggested by the
plaintiffs counsel, is not known. 1t is
certain that the lady Was left in Edin-
burgh. There, proving how much the
first step has to do with the g. road to
ruin," this lady, described " as the most
fascinating and beautiful Of women, and
generous IN heart and purse" fell an
| easy victim to the attractions of second
seducer. Mr. Butler returned, and found
Mrs. Colebrooke living with that gen.
tlenan, MIR. Taate, in the same house.
A scene ensIed. Mr.. Taafe was
locked in one room-the fair cause of
this confusion walked with Mr.. Butler
into another, and. after remaining with
MIN short time, the servants were
called up, and the two parties declared
themselves to be man and wife, in the
presence of the assembled parties. Poor
Mr.. Taafe was thrown overheard by Mr..
Whiteside's female paragon, and Mr..
Butler and herself lived together for q
while as man and wife, until he took it
into his head to turn her away in des-
pair she returned to her late admirer
mir. Taaie, with whom she again took up
her residence. In the mean time, Mr..
Butler married again. The bride this
time was Miss Harrison, the mother of
the present defendant. The plaintiff
thought to eject the defendant from the
succession, inasmuch as the marriage
with Mrs. Colebrooke was valid accord.
! .ng 10 Scotch law, in which case that
with Miss Harrison was illegal. The
verdict was for the plaintiff, and it could
scarcely be otherwise, as there could be
little doubt that the marriage with Mrs.
Colebrooke was legal Scotch marriage.
This is a strange mutation Of circum-
stances resulting from the acts of worth
less man fifty years back. 1t is only
within the last three years that the evi-
dence has been procured which establishes
the fact of a marriage between Butler
and Mrs. Colebrooke. The result of that
evidence has been to transfer an immense
fortune and title, The defendant is in
every view Of the case entitled to the
greatest commiSseration. His mother
was, for no fault Of her own, dissraced,
and himself illegitimized, in addition to
the loss of his fortune and position; and
al this the fruits OF vice which even
now does not meet with that apprehension
in society which its enormity demands