, 1870-03-04
TIE MoADAuHr DIVORCE CASE.

TIE MoRDAuHT DIVORCE CASE.
The English papers containing the re-
ported testimony In this remarkable case
arc now reaching US daily. The verdict has
already been announced by cable despatch.
The case is a remarkable one in every
respect. Sir Charles Mordaunt is :he tenth
Baronet in a line which extends back to the
days VI Elizabeth. He is 33 years Of age,
and has bean in Parliament g,nce 1859.
Lady Alordnunt is the fourth daughter Of
Sir Thomas Moncrieffe, Scotch noble.
nnn; was. married in 1866, when she
was 10 years Of age, aud is ranked as one
Of the most beautiful women in England.
In February, 1868, she was prematu1ely
confined at their country residence il
having been previously arranged that that
event should take place in London,
where DR.. Priesuy had been engaged
for ths occasion. Her husband was
with her at the time, and she was attended
bya local physician. She took 8 strong
aversion to her child from the first, and
when, soon after, it was discovered that the
child vas afflicted with disease, shc. hated
it. Presently sha began, first to the
nurse and then to her husband, to accuse
herself Of imp1op1ieties with viscount Cole,
Sir T. Johnstone, and the Prince OF Wales.
She asserted that Lord Cole vas tho father
Of the child, and that the disease with
which it WIS afflicted bad been contracted
from Sir T. Johnstone. The husband re-
jected these communications for seyernl
weeks. He then examined her w1iting-desk
and Havelhng-ba and found 1ettera from all
these persons to his wife. He made inquiries,
and finally reached the conclusion that
what she had told him WAS true. He sepa-
rated from her, and commenced suit for d.
Eorce, and the papers were served upon
Lady Mordaunt in April. When the case
was called in court her friends interposed
the plea Of insanity, alleging that she was
insane at the time the suit was brought,
and continued to be so, and therefore could
not be required to defend. The Court there
upon appointed her father guardian dd
Item, and made special issue before a
jury TO Try the question of her sanity. That
was the issue, and the only one, before the
jury In tho present case, and the verdict
was thet she was afflicted with puerpe.al
mania soon after her confinement, aud Is
go still.
The allegation. On the part Of tho hus-
band was that insanity was simulated; that,
after having confessed her crime in mo-
ment Of peuitence, che had craftily planned
the part of maniac, to avoid the conse-
quences. To sustain these theories both
sides offered much testimony. The local
physician, as well aa the nurse, and the
clergyman ard his wife. all repudiated the
idea Of insanity, and all treated her Is the
ndulteress she had confessed herself to be,
and the censoriousness OF The rector and
his wife appears, in the light of other testi-
n,ony, very harsh. All other personp, in
Guiding half dozen attendants and q
score Of eminent doctors, testified not only
to insanity, but to such wreck Of mental
facilities as to reduce her to the condition
of idiocy.
Whsther Lady Mo1daunt was guilty Of
any OF the crimes Of which she accused
herself or not, there can hardly be my
question Of her insanity, dating from near
the time of he- confinement, and continuing
to grow worse to the present time. Upon
this point the testimony is overwhelming.
Consequently, until abe RECEIVERS hcrzeason,
which is not considered at all probable, the
application for divorce, upon the charge of
adultery, must fall. The lady, before nar-
riagc, was great belle, whose company
vas sought after by many; those now ac-
cused Of improper intimacy with her, in
cluding the Prince Of Wales, were among
her followers before mnrr1ara Sir Oh.-,~a
testified that when be heard Of her con-
tinued reception of the visits OF the Pince
he ordered hes to pat an end TO them; but
thst, while he knew, personally. Of no sus-
seauent yisits Of His Royal Highness, he
beard that they ~ere Kept up. This the