The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-28
E U R OPE.
What Prince Arthur Knows About
the Game of War.
THE WASHINGTON TREATY AGAIN CRITICISED

The Inman steamship City Of London, Captain
Mirehouse from Liverpool March IA, via Queens
town the 18th, arrived at this port yesterday with
latest foreign mall news.
Extraordinary Termination Of an ExtraOr.
binary Trinl-The Tw ISIS ScnndaI-A Blishted
Household and Blaclmaier's Reward.
From the London Telegraph, March 14.l
Yesterday the Surrey Sessions Court witnessed
the collapse OF case which has excited almost as
keen 2 public interest as the famous suit
%entns on the abrupt Termination s lV'V of this
remarkable prosecution 1t may be well to
recall the general outline Of the charge so STRANGELY
instituted, so strangely withdrawn. About
fortnight ago Mr.. Alexander Cnafers was indicted
at the Southwark Police Court on the plea OF nav
ing attempted to eXtOrt money rom Sir IraverS
Twiss. The prosecutor was man whose position
was in itself SUFFICIENT to confer importance upon
tatlon, Il is enough to say that Dr. TwIss is Cham
cellor OF the Diocese OF Canterbury and Ad-
OF these high functions he occupies position
which ought to be above the breath OF
Twiss, being then a man past middle lie married
lady OF foreign extraction at Dresden. Naturally
fortune and character, was received into the best
society In London. was presented at Court, and
and fashion. Down 10 the other day the household
| OF Sir Travers ana Lady Twlss afforded no more
subject Tor comment SO Tar as the outer world
thousands OF wellto.do households IN this
great metropolis. II seems, however, that for
long period of time the Advocate General
mas been subjected to threats and demands on the
part OF the individual who yesterday stood In the
dock at SOUTHWARK on u charge OF extortlon. Mr..
Chaffers either possessed, or alleged that he pos
sessed, evidence as to Lady Twiss' antecedents
which, II dlvulged, would disquality her from ad-
mission into respectable society and on the strength
OF tnis kn0wedge ne kept perpetually threatening
OF his relations win the unhappy victim OF his per-
secuon may have been 1t Ii Impossible Tor alter
surmise. All We can say with any certainty is
| that AT some period or other, probably not very
Mr.. Cha1ers to do his worst. Thereupon this gen
| teman, who seems to have added to his other
Of letters 70 the Lord Chamberlain. the Archbishop
OF Canterbury ana other distinguished personapes
personal relations, containing number Of the viIest
possible mputatons against the lie and character
Not content with this, Mr. Cnaifers, by some
| means whicn have not been clearly elucidated,
tanned the signature OF metropolitan magistrate
| TO D statutory declaration charging the wretched
| woman, whose pasS he proposed to disclose, win
having led a lie OF infamy. lt is with sincere
brought against Lady Twiss. For our purpose
It's enough to say that II Mr.. Chaiers smoke
mon woman OF the town.. with whom her ira
| Queer, oy hts own admission, had carried on
mans story to be true, the vile Of the Vicar General
had pursued vicious career IN London under the
name 0 Madam Geas had been involved In all kinds
Of dlsreputable adventures ana connexions, and
| had gained the confidence OF ner husband under
circumstances calculated 10 leave little doubt
her untnesS for decent society," TO TINS charge the
| answer given was complete and absolute denial.
According the story put forward on behalf OF the
prosecution Lazy Twiss was person OF gentle birth,
| fair fortune and irreproachaole character Her
| knowledge Of Mr. Charters was confined to slight
| acquaintance with him as having been the legal
ADVISER Of Madame Gelas-a lady OF good repula.
ton, under whose care she mad resided Tor some
little tune In London-whne the allegations as to
| her imputed guilty intimacy with the defendant
were i0ul and wilful falsenood. Nothing would
seem at first sight more overwhelming tnan the
! force OF tins denial. Lady Twiss guardians, VINO
reside IN Belgium. gave most satisfactory evidence
NUMBER asf q apparently saserested WEI
nesses swore to dates and Incidents utterly
put forward BY Mr.. Cnafrers on the history Of his
alleged amours with the lady IN question. Proofs
duced 10 snow that Madame Gelas, whoever and
| whatever she may have been, was distinct per.
sonase from Lady Twss and what perhaps tod
woman was placed In the witness box, and de.
livered her evidence, botn in the ex.
| crOss-examination conducted by her prosecutor
IN person, with directness, simplicity and
the theory OF her having anything dishonorable to
conceal. No doubt there were certain crcum-
strange fatality almost all the people who could
have absolutely disproved the charges brought
against Lady Twiss-ner iather, Madame Gelas, the
man Constant and others OF q ike importance
were either dead or missing. Still, the prndJacie
puIatlOns brought against ner appeared over.
wnemlng that the communal, not the CONVICTION,
OF the man CnaffetS seemed an absolute certainty
up To yesterday morning.
by previous agreement the case for the prosecu-
ton was TO nave been concluded BY the addition OF
one or more formal witnesses as to the publication
OF the alleged libes, and the defendant was subse.
quently TO nave called such evidence as he could
produce in support Of his disgraceul charge. But
wnen the Court met Mr.. Poland, who has conducted
the prosecution with singular judgment and deli
cacy, announced that Lady Twiss mad declined any
further appearance In the witness box and mad left
London, and that, therefore, he was compelled to
withdraw from the prosecution. WHAT may
decision 1t IS impossible even 10 surmise.
1t would be cruel to add TO the misery
Specializing on the exact degree OF color the sud-
den abandonment OF the charge lends TO the truth
neve that Oil the chief witnesses for the prosecution
were deliberately guilty OF perjury we cannot doubt
against her by the defendant were incorrect, II
baseless. Still common sense forces from us the &C.
Twiss stands convicted Of not daring 70 face the foul
| asperslons uttered against her good name What
ner exa o 60 have Seeh we o @
facts alleged against her be true, she never should
have been introduced into the presence chamber OF
the queen, to say nothing or society at large Less
tnan this we should not De justified In saying. Ex-
cuses may be suggested for the grave offence thus
committed, but be these excuses what they may
M Cnaliers has succeeded In his threat, and has
blghted hlghlypIaced household beyond possi-
blty OF redemption. With respect to the accused
we snail add but little now especially he stu
his dcfencefor another attempt at extorion. But IN
dressed 70 him the following observallons:-'I am
AFRAID that TO the vulgar and uneducated mind,
your escape to-day may convey an impression that
libel may not be malicious but justlfaDe II true
only hope that everybody VINO sees you walk
forth Tree man from the withdrawal Of this charge
Will consider well the subject and not come 10 the
conclusion that libel Is Justabe, however truthful
the statements may be. With regard to what you
have said as to the conduct Of tins woman-tns I'M
fortunate woman whose courage has lied after
being brave Tor lew days, from these frigntful
charges winch, perhaps, some connection knowl-
edge OF her has enabled you to make--I must tell
you tna to the END VI your days, Tor your conduct
IN making these charges as part OF your defence,
you Will PROBABLY be an object OF CONTEMPT TO all
well-thinking men. have nothing more to say to
g0u, except 10 caution you against imagining that
these unfortunate peope-the husband loaded
with distress and shame owing to some weakness
OF his wife, which might have been shielded from
him, and the woman shrinking from q painful
necessity OF attending this Court-can be lbelIed