The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-12
THE MORDAUNT DIVORCE CASE.
Lady Mordaunt Found Guilty
OF Adultery.
TIKI GREAT ENGLISH MATRIMONIAL SENSATION
The Prince OF Wales Oath Of Innocence
timacy, but No Crimiuality.
LONDON, March IL, 1875.

LONDON March IL, 1875.
The jury in the Mordaunt divorce case have
found Lady Mordaunt guilty of adultery. The
Judge pronounced the decree nisi with costs.
HISTORY OF THE MoRDAUNr DIVORCE CASE.
This celebrated case-the action OF Sir Charles
Mordaunt. Bart against his wife. Harriet Sarah
| Moncrefe, for divorce, on the ground OF adultery
| committed BY the wife with different PERSONS
| was placed ON trial in London during the month
OF February In the year 1870. before Lord Pen
zance and a special jury. Tue progress OF the
proceedings was reported specially to the HERALD
by cable kilograms and letters from day to DAY.
THE PLAINTIFF AND DEPENDANT.
| Sir Charles Mordaunt resides at Masslnghan, In
the county Of Norfolk, and one period OF his life
represented South warwickshire IN Parliame mt.
He was born the 18th of April, In the year 1885,
| and succeeded to the baronetcy by the death OF
his ather, the tenth barOnet, on 9th OF Septem-
Der. ls45.
| On the 18th OF December. 1866, he married Harriet
Sarah Moncrene the fourth daughter OF sir
| Thomas Moncrede, Bart, who bore him
| child, daughter, on the oSth OF January, 1869.
| Sir Charles MOrdaunt proved to be domestic
! disciplnaIlan-austere in manner, peremptOry,
scrupuious and severe. Lady Mordaunt was,
lond OF company and slightly gay in manner. She
was much admired In society, in Court circles,
| by Queen Victoria her children, and especially BY
Ills Royal Hignness the Prince OF Wales.
UNHAPPY.
Sir Charles Mordaunt began to complain. Lady
Mordaunt went on as usual.
IN THE DIVORCE COURT.
| In February 1870. he commenced q suit for
| divorce On the ground OF adultery committed by
| Lady MOrdaunt. The outline o. mis- case was that
soon alter Lady Mordaunt was confined OF her first
child she confessed TO lady visitor (the wife OF
an English clergyman that she had broken she
seventh commandment, not only with one person,
but with six different individuals. Her friends
said she insane when sne made the confess
sion; her enemies asserted that she was merely
sins sYe Lsdy mordaunt was then an Inmate Of
private unatc asylum. She mad been sent there,
it was said. IN the hope OF curing her OF mental
which she labored under and aggravated 0y her
MODE OF living and everyday habits since her
accouchement. Sir Charles Mordaunt wisned to
have an absolute divorce from her.
QUEEN VICTORIA INTERESTED.
Queen Victoria sent Tor SIR Charles and begged
OF him mot to open a great scandal" but the
Baronct denied the request ana md. alleged that ne
1t cost him mis- W mole fortune.
LEGAL ACTION.
Sergeant Balantne was retained as his cOun-
sell He moved the case before Lord Penzance In
the late day OF January. 1870 asking that day
ylsconn o Tr ' sir FREDERICK Johasrone Bor and
others, were named AZ correspondents IN the
salt they. as alleged, having participated in the
xdulterOus acts
The trial came on after the usual formalities. 1t
attracted immense interest.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESs THE PRINCE OF WALES.
The Prince of Wales had maintained CORE.
spondence. by letter, with Lady Mordaunt; ne
ms friends his admiration or her appearance.
During the course OF the suit for divorce, on the
called to the stand as witness ne was sworn
IN due form oy his Christian names as Prince OF
wales BelGr t MS r pn1nc me
the Bar as a new rule OF Court that mo witness
was bound to make TO any question an answer
that would admit that he was guilty OF adultery"
THE PRINCES TESTIMONY.
The Prince OF Wales testified that he was &C.
quainted with Lady Mordsunt previous TO her
marriage; that he had made her wedding pres
ent; before her marriage she visited the Princess
OF Wales at Marlborough House; she had visited
the theatre in company with himself ana the
Princess OF Wales; he saw her after in the years
1866 and 1867; he met Sir Charles Mordaunt at
pigeon shooting match; Lazy MOrdaunt on that
occasion scored for both OF them; ne spoke to her
during the course OF the match.
The Prince admitted that he occasionally used
His Royal Highness then swore solemnly and
as5everated tuat there never had been any lm-
proper intimacy or criminal intention between
Lady Mordaunt and himself"
Lady Mordaunt was finally declared TO have
been insane when she made the confession OF her
guilt and also during other periods Of her married
life.
THE HUSBAND UNRELENTINs.
been under restraint in England.
This dld not satisfy Sir Charles Mordaunt, who
has ever since sought, by lega. process Tor an
absolute decree OF divorce. on the ground OF the
adultery OF his vile.
In the London Divorce Court on the 4th OF
December, 1874, Mr.. lnderwlck. on behalf OF Sir
Charles Mordaunt, applied Tor the MordaUnt case
to come on IN Its turn In the first instance u
que stiOn was raised as to whetner the lady could
appear, as she was OF unsound mind, out the
matter was disposed OF by the House OF Lords
on the 22d oil June, 1873. The correspondent had
August an order was made as to the trial. At
the time no plea was filed by the respondent, but
an application was made by Sir Thomas MOncrien
the guardian dd Item, to appear and answer, ana
leave was given him to do So The learned cOun-
the matter and considered that they ought 10
move that the case be heard In Its ORDER and this
some doubt as to whether, considering the tech
nicaities Of the case. az order as to the mode OF
trial had already been given.
After some conversation Sir James Hammer
gave leave for papers to be Med. so that the mo-
ton as to the cause being heard may be definitely
settled.
SIR CHARLES THREATENS AN EDITOR.
The preface Of new edition o. '.Debrett's Illus:
stated that Sir Charles Mordaunt, Bart, threat.
ened the editor with legal proceedings, under the
circumstances stated Oy SIR Cnarles," in letter
The honorable Baronet's letter Is as follows:-
WALTON. WARWICK, Nov. I3 1871
living % daushse5 born Isss which my I ursen gent
year, noIwhsandng mat they were Omitted in ali
Teaue. su' have SeTeoie only add t%S. i she
words erased are not % cmed shall bring an acton
which am assron, should &c Sn.wn aud iVI that
81 sw and
rns aid not aks pses but this
{. MoRDAUNr
And so Sir Charles Mordaunt has won his case.