The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
The YelvertOn Trial.


recent trial, at Dublin, which has awakened
80 much sympathy for zone more unfortu-
nate," is of q highly interesting character,
in so far as it shows the estimate the nobili-
ty of England place upon the middle and
lower classes. The theory of the defence
was that there had been no legal marriage.
but that Major YELvERToN had met Mrs,
YELvERToN, nee LoNawoRrH, was attracted
by her beauty, and was melted by her passion
for him. He then determined to seduce her.
The following is the opening Of the cross
examination:
Q. Major Yelverton, did you ever love Tere.
sa Longworth?
A. l did.
Q. Did you ever love her purely and honor.
ably?
@. Then your love for her was always found
ed in dishonor?
A. Yes.
Q. With the determination from the first to
seduce her?
A. No.
Q. But your love was all founded on dishor-
A. Yes.
Q. Explain me that.
A. When began the correspondence with
her it was with no object either dishonOrable
or otherwise. l continued that correspondence
with her; when met her at Galata was car
rled away with passion, and then first conceiv-
ed the design OF making her my mistress.
Q. In the convent of Galata?
A. In the convent of Galata, Sir.
Q. She wearing the robes of Sister of
Mercy?
| A, True, Sir.
| Q. In attendance on the sick and dying SOL
diers of the Crimea.
| A. True Sir.
@. And you conceived the notion, then, of
| taking her from that holy work and taking her
| as your mistress?
A. l conceived the notion of making her my
mistress, but not from that holy place.
z. suppose. you thought as your mistress
she could as well perform the works of chart
| A. The kindest-hearted women in the world
| sometimes are mlstresses.
But probably the most interesting portion
of the cross examination is the exposition
of the views of Major YELvERroN, on the
crime of seduction. He was cross examined
by Sergeant SULLIVAN:
Do you think it is laudable thing to seduce
| woman Upon my honor do not.
| Upon your OATH do not want your notions
of honor-is it laudable FL do not thing it is.
Are you perfectly satisfied of that FL am
now.
When did that satisfaction come over your
mind ?--When l married, Sir, on the 18th of
| June, 1858.
It was then you got proper notion on the
subject? lit was.
But up to that perhaps, it was laudable
thing in your opinion 2? No, it was not laud.
able.
What was it--.Well, that depends upon
whether it was found out or not. lSensation
So, up to June, 1858, your notions as to the
to the consideration whether it was discovered
| or nOt?---You asked me the same question
twice, and repeat the two answers.
Now you put them both together2
CHIEF JUsTICE-What are the two answers2
WITNEss-I said first that it depends upon
the nature of the seduction, by which mean
the means a man takes, the trouble he gives
himself, the position into which he puts wO-
man-.-whether it was all upon his part, or all
upon hers Il think that makes a great differ
| ence in the laudabllity or otherwise of seduc-
| ton.
| SERGEANT SULLIvAN..--I see. Dou you think
| the laudability of it is favored if the woman
seduced is an orphan ?--I don't say it is lauda-
| BILE under any circumstances.
! Do you say that now ?---I do.
Did you not say thatits laudability depended
upon whether discovered or not 2 Il say its lau.
| liability or otherwise depends upon that.
| Is whether it is found out or not material
| element in its laudability Pho, sir.
In what, then ?.--In the blame it meets with.
| Had you known, in the convent at Galata,
| that Teresa Longworth was an orphan ?--[ AZ
ter pause.] She had told me that her mother
died in early life that her lather was dead, the
| atheist
CHIEF JUSTICE. - Who said that?
SERGEANT SULLIvAN...The witness adds that,
my lord. You wrote her letters you knew she
was an orphan and a lady "a gentlewOman 2 =
don't know, sir, what your definition of gen.
tlewOman is exactly.
Tell me what your own is?---A woman of
gentle blood.
Has education nothing to say to it, think
you ?---Making lady; yes, sir.
Have manners nothing to say to it, think you?
They have, sir.
Have Accomplishments nothing to say to it
They have, sir.
Belief in religion? 1T has. sir.
Did you know that Teresa Longworth was an
accom- lished woman?- Il thought SO from her
letters, Sir.
Was her manner that of a lady?,-. After
long pause, aud with degree of hesitation.]
TO]erably so, Sir.
Had he told you who she was ?-.-She had
| told me that her father ha. been silk mer-
chant il Manchester; that her mother had been
many years dead; that she and her family had
| quarreled with her father, and never lived with
him for many years; and that she and her Sis
ter were living concealed from every body in
| the place in which l saw them in London.
You knew all about her ?-..What she told
me.
Was she gentlewoman in your opinion?---
think sir, that accomplishments, religion, and
every thing else must be added to gentle blood,
to give proper definition OF gentlewOman.
You must have gentle blood at all events, ac-
cording to your definition ?---Exactly.
And p rhaps it is no harm to seduce woman
who has not that qualification? l did not say
that.
Well, what is your opinion? Before 1858 did
you think the element of gentle blood material
in reference to seduction FL think had better
give you my idea of seduction, sir. -
SERGEANT SULLIvAN..-I should very much
ike to hear it. rf...
WITNESS. Seduction is where man follows
woman persistently and perseveringly, and
with intent throughout to make her his mistress
and dishOnOr her.
Very good, Sir; that was your idea of Sc.
duction then?-It was.
Do you think that the fact of the lady not hav-