The New York herald., 1866-03-19


more than that, and my learned friend with me DIV
distinctly state that with regard TO two persons wpo are
named as having given Information, and whose names
were mentioned In the affidavit presented 70 the court
two days since have what they he;e say, and
have no hesitation in declaring that stead Of proving
the charges against Mr. Sothern their statements show
that they unounded and that they could not have
been proved. think this much y due TO Mr. Sothern
Another matter which mus mention Is that Mr.
Sothern has already submito1 himself sexamina
tion. He has come forward at more than police
court for that purpose End would be an idle waste Of
time II he and Ms. Sothern had been obliged TO go
through the same Ceremony in this court because dis
ncty state that upon the charges which made In the
passages In The imputed libel would not have asked
them single question II would have been my duty TO
abstain from dong 30. Having stated In the most
unequvOca terms, the desire which is entertained by
Mr. Coleman thus to exonerate Mr. Sothcrn let pro-
ceed the Court will have what sentence ought
to be passed. as shortly and As plainly as possible give
an account OF the circumstances under which the unior
tunate passages which referred TO in this libel have
been introduced The Court not probably aware or
this that far the libel is concerned IL is extracted
from very long article In the February number OF the
Spiritual Magazine and that most of that production con-
siss OF matters entirely connected with that which has
excited very great sensation IN America and some as
cusson in this country. ] mean the doctrine or spir
itualism That article will be found TO have treated
OF splritualism, and Of a controversy In which Mr.
Sothern had been engaged with regard to the truth
iuness or with regard TO the incorrectness Of the
IDEAS entertained upon that subject But untor-
tunately, the conclusion OF that article Mr. Cole
manwhQ neither the editor the proprietor OF the
Sp~udt Magazine and he desires TO state that most
emphaticay-introduced etter which he had received
letter he will hand to the Court should be necessary
TO do So introduc ng commentary upon letter written
Dy MI S0thern TO q Glasgow newspaper When come
TO show the passages complained Of from which, on the
part OF Mr. Coleman, entirely exonerate Mr. Sohern,
as to there being any foundation for them the Court will
see the whole grievance and complaint arises from this
letter, ,chich had been transmitted from Neio Yrk Mr.
Coleman desires me to say and he will be able to provo
II most distinctly that in the report which circulated
and the assertion which made, perhaps upon misin
formation, he had nothing whatever to do-that he
neither concocted that letter, sent It to New
sent TO this country. The assertion that he knew
anything about It is absolutely unfounded, and
reference to the affidavit made two days ago, have
advert TO portion Of it, In regard 70 those persons
whoe names were mentioned there bu. in the affidavit
there was also paragraph stating that Mr. Coleman
desirous OF putting of the al because among other
matters, he would be able to establish II communication
could be made with New York. most distinctly that lie
had nothing to do with the letter ,chic pIs tdnmhed
W friend whose name was mentioned. Advert ne,
them TO the fact that article containing the libel had
not been read In court in estenso though il always
the custom to do so, and giving illustration the fact
that on one occasion whole oanto Of 'Don san had
been so read to show the tenor and OF the article
though only few passages had been complained Of the
learned counsel went on TO say the whole of this matter
unfortunately originates rightly or wrongly in that
which Mr.. Sothen may be imagined he was right IN do
ing II would appear that IN the of last year Mr.
sothcrn and MIR. Addison upon public stage given
some exhibition.
Mr. Sergeant Baantine objected to this matter being
brought before the court and said that his learned
friend persisted he should be Obliged strongly address
the court what could only be brought fOrw ard as
justifao OF the libel instead OF doing as he was most
anxious to do after the DEFENDANTS plea, remain silent
on the subject.
Mr. Montagu Chambers said-The object is not justin
cation So far from doing harm, am simply in mti-
CATION, about TO state the circ sances under which this
unfortunate mistake made Of introdnc ng the pas
sagcs complained OF from a letter which had been n
doctrines OF what is cal ed spirituasm, but do know
that great controversy has aien on the subj ct and
that very extraordinary impression has prevailed In
America and in many parts of this country; and l
only ANXIOUS to show that ar as Mr. Coleman is
cerned he is, rightly or wrongly, under a strong
vction that the phenomena which have been ex-
hbited from time to time are attributable 10 other
than ordinary causes, and that he to the fu extent
6 .mpres ed soti the tr'ttaines Of pfnaii'm. hr.
ern, on the other hand am sure utt not d.ny ha' ne
sa'ed hat he had deccd ,he Jdiaes de sp prac
sed ty Ae Dacenpor 6reher, dndi ihai he cera.ny did
Trte Ld<r 10 Gl1sgow nrspaper, IN scaih he d.
nnced sprit,lrsn a. dep io, IN rery .tsnq lam
gmge Indeed, that was parity the or nation OF the
magazine, work applicable only TO these matters.
approhcnd, therefore, there be harm n my
stating without giving the whole account OF that the
commencement was statement by Mr. sothern that he
had at Scarboro or elsewhere exhibited what he
pleased TO call the deceptions Of the Davenport Brothers,
This naturally led to observations from time TO time in
the Spirit al Moear,e ending in this very long arieie
o. which the nbe s an extract. My statement without
EGn$ Into the -, ws" = s%py this hs.
ly, Uds d1tdgons.c TO spi,st.ai.sw that discussion
took place from time to time in this magazines
the end of which was inserted the letter which
purported 70 be, and which really had been rec ived
spritualism and matters ted with spiritaais
there unfort nately and improperly two para
graphs 2 mos, da%asns and destructive 70 CHI. acter
took measures with reference 70 tie SPIRIT al Aa0asine
Mr. Coleman unfortunately said he was prepared TO
prove that which ublished He desires me now 70
say that when he wroie that letter he to say he
was prepared 70 prove all those matters connected with
pared 10 prove anything regard 70 oss wa s
graphs Mr.. Coleman also says that he ihought-but
very inudiciousy in my judsment-that by putting
II was absurd 70 think 30; for the moment any law, err
or indeed, any person OF common sense, looks the
paragraphs he would at that the astersks by
no means take OF the sting Of The impntat ons But
however, he distinctly that what lac prove
Mas not the statements confined In these paragraphs but
simply what he himself had written.
Mr. Sergeant Balanne here handed letter TO the
learned counsel for his pcrusaI
MT Nonta Chambers hav ng reed the letter. went on
TO sayMy learned friend las been kind enough 20 show
me letter Will b Appeared In the Tmes Mr.. toleman,
Gle upon splrituasm, and upon the con'royeny popr
on between Mr. sothern and the spirituaiss and hat
he said Is, IL can justly all have publ shed myselfn
meaning "a that have written with reference TO the
truihfuness Of spiritualism prepared jusifyr
He may be sangune aud have erroneous convic
ton but he desires me distinctly 10 say that II s nv
duty TO call the attention of the Court to the exsence OF
this controversy, and have no dofbt they will ako 10
into their consideration.
The Deputy Re 'order-Before you pass on wish 20
ask did the letter in the Glasgow Legtt apcr besides
criii ising sp ualsm system, Its .rnes and its
practices coma any personal impuiaons against those
who practised ~
sergeant Ballantne explained that the letter in the
Glasgow newspaper was, without making illusions 10
persons an answer 10 attack made upon Mr. Sothern
In the Sp,ri sai Aagssinr.
Mr. Moptasu chambers-I win tell you h,w IL was II
Ia perfectly true Mr. Sothern stated that IN the course
Of tour had exhibited S riiacies Of pyrtuah w. hav.
ing with the aid OF his friends verified the dcceptons
that practsed
The Deputy Reccrdcr-Thathe IN fat covd produce ne
.nms phenonsnd a the Spirt uaiis5, bf sIh a Gtrl6u
ing Me eDecf b. np,rnaf1rai merns.
Mr. Nontagu Chambcrs-I will answer that presently.
II " singular fact that Mr. Coleman convinccd
Of the truth of Spuasm that that article he SAYS
III Mr. Sotbern and his friends have achieved these ex.
Iraordinary matters they are what called medums
and must b. convinced that they not mediums II
hey have done what they have stated sscrbe only 70
heir being strong mediums All that introduc Ell in
what Mr. sthern had DONE and certainly
shows Mr. Colemau's strong conviction OF the truth
ulness OF the deetrines OF Spintualism The Court