Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-16
LADY MORDAUNT'S GUILT.
Free at Last.

Divorce suft-A ReIeEtIess Husband
Free at Last.
New York Herald, March Is.
The remarkable divorce suit which Occa-
stoned 50 much scandal in England few
years ago has at length been judically de-
cided. 1t will be remembered that an eff
fort was made to prevent Sir Charles
MOrdaunt obtaining a divorce on
the ground of his wife's insanity.
In order to shut out a child
he had good reason to believe illegitimate
from succession to the MOrdaunt title and
estates he persiStently sought legal redress,
and has at length tTiumphed. The appear
ance Of the heir presumptive to the English
throne in the case gave the scandal unusual
interest for the people, as it seemed likely
at one period that the Prince Of Wales
would be Joined as correspondent. This
| expectation was, however, defeated by the
Prince appearing as witness and swearing
positively that though he had visited the
lady very frequently their relations had
never gone beyond the bounds of friendship.
The verdict against Lady Mordaunt is a
severe blow TO several noble houses in
England, as her three sisters-all remarka-
bic for their beauty-are married to great
territorial mobiles.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
This celebrated case-the action of Sir
| Charles MOrdaunt, Bart, against his wife,
Harriet Sarah Moncriefe, for divorce, on
| the ground Of adultery committed by the
wife with different persons-was placed on
| trial in London during the month of Feb
ruary, in the year 1870, before Lord Pen
zance and a special jury. The progress of
-. aoa Ill
the Herald by cable kilograms and letters
from day to day.
THE PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT.
S-r Charles MOrdaunt resides at MaSsing-
ham, in the county of Norfolk, and at one
period of his life represented South War
Wickshire in Parliament. He was born on
| the 2Sth of April, in the year 1896, and
succeeded to the baronetcy by the death of
his father, the tenth barOnet, on the 9th
of September, 1915.
On the It'll of December, 1866, he mar
RED Harriet Sarah MOncrieffe, the fourth
daughter Of Sir Thomas MOnTiefe, Bart
who bore him one child, a daughter, on the
2Sth Of January, 1869. Sir Charles Nor
dsunt proved to be domestic disciplinarian
-austere in manner, peremptory, scupu-
lous and severe. Lady Mordaunt was, on
the contrary, of a cheerful disposition,
| lively, fond of company and slightly gay in
manner. She was much admired in sOci-
ety, in Court circles, by Queen Victoria,
her children, and especially by His Royal
| Highness the Prince of Wales.
UNHAPPY.
Sir Charles Mordaunt began to complain.
I Lady Mordaunt went on as usual.
IN THE DIVORCE COURT.
| Il Eabr71ar-u 1870 no aor71V,oarnaH q emit
for divorce on the ground of adultery COM
mitted by Lady Mordaunt. The outline
of his case was that soon after Lady Nor
daunt was confined of her first child she
confessed to a lady visitor (the wife of an
English clergyman) that she had broken
! the seventh commandment, not only with
| one person, but with six different individu-
ais. Her friends said she was insane when
she made the confession; her enemies as
1 serted that she was merely telling the truth
as an act of penitence for her sins. L3dy
| Mordaunt was then an inmate Of a private
lunatic asylum. She had been sent there,
! it was said, in the hope of curing her of
mental hallucinations, amounting to posi-
tive disease, which she labOred under and
aggravated by her mode Of living and every
day habits since her accouchment. Sir
Charles MOrdaunt wished to have an absO-
lutte divorce from her.
QUEEN VICTORIA INTERESTED.
Queen Victoria sci for Sir Charles and
begged him 'not be open a great scan
dali" but the BarOnet denied the request,
and alleged that he would carry the matter
to a legal termination if it cost him his
whole fortune.
LEGAL ACTION.
Sergeant Ballentine was retained as his
counsel. He moved the case before Lord
Penzance in the late day Of January, 1870,
asking that day be named for the trial Of
MOrdaunt vs.. MOrdaunt. NiscOunt Cole,
Sir Frederick tombstone, Bart, and others,
were named as correspondents in the suit
they, as alleged, having participated in the
adulterOus acts.
The trial came on after the usual formal
tics. 1t attracted immense interest.
HIS ROYAL HGHNEss THE PRINCE OF
WALES.
The Prince Of Wales had maintained a
correspondence by letter with Lady Nor
daunt; he danced with her at a bali, and
had protested to his friends his admiration
of her appearance. During the course Of
the suit for divorce, on the Esd Of Feb
ruary, 1870, His Royal Highness was called
to the stand as a witness. lie was sworn
in due form by his Christian names as
Prince of Wales. Before his examination
commenced the presiding Judge, Lord Pen
zance, pointed out TO the Bar, as new rule
of court, that 'nO 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 be
was acquainted with Lady Mordaunt pre-
yious TO her marriage; that be had made
bera wedding present; before her marriage
She visited the Princess of Wales at MaTl-
borough House; she had visited the
theatre in company with himself and the
/ Princess of Wales; he saw her after in the
years 1866 and 1867; he met Sir Charles
Mordaunt at a pigeon shooting match;
Lady MOrdaunt On that occasion scored for
both OF them; he spoke 70 her during the
course Of the match.
The Prince admitted that he occasional.
" used Hanson cabs.
His ROYAL Highness then swOre solemn
and asseverated that there ''never had beer
any improper intimacy or criminal inten
ton between Lady Mordaunt and him
self"
Lady Hordaunt was finally declared Il
have been insane when she made the con
fession of her guilt, and also during Othe
periods Of her married life.
THE HUSBAND UNRELENTING.
Lady MOrdaunt travelled abroad. ShI
has also been under restraint in England
This did not satisfy Sir Charles Nor
daunt, who has ever since sought, by lega
process, for an absolute decree OF divorce
/ on the gTOund'o of the adultery Of his wife
COunterFeiters Arrested.
GALVESTON. March IA Nelcs speeia