The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-10
A NOTED DIVORCE SUIT.
GeorgeC. Norton Against Lord Mel
bourne.

GeorgeC. Norton ARainst Lord Mel
bourne.
Count Joannes in the n. Y. Sun.
was in London at the time of the
celebrated trial for alleged GRIM. con,
George &. Norton against Lord Mel
bourne. l had the honor Of the lady's
acquaintance before that time, having
been introduced to her by the Hon Mrs.
Col Leicester Stanhope, at an evening
party at her residence in Hanover square,
Colonel, the Hon. Leicester Stanhope
afterward, Earl of Harrington was the In
innate and military friend of Lord Byron
when at Missolonghi, and was the guar
dian OF the poets dead body to England
Lord Harrington was my fervent friend
and for years, and while the great trial
was in progress, we were in constant
communication. After the initiation OF
the action, the husband took away from
his wife their children, thus adding to
her marital wrongs, severe maternal al
Fiction. At this time l received q COM
plmentary letter from her, containing
these words:
Though afflicted with unmerited sor-
row and misery, and excessive maternal
grief, because my two children are cruel
ly taken from me, and not even per-
mitted to see them, yet l have twice read
to my dear mother your beautiful ana ell
oquent public. 'Oratiol upon Shak-
speare,' which you kindly presented to
me-" &c.
No Grim. CON. trial in England ever
produced such general excitement, ex-
cept the proceedings against Queen Car
oline. Lord Melbourne was Prime Min.
ister of Great Britain, the liberal political
tutor OF the Queen, Victoria, when Prin-
cess and who regarded him, from bis kind
ness Of heart. his wisdom and his age, al
most with tilal piety as If her own faith
er, and in the same light was he regarded
by the Hon. Mrs. Norton. Like the Mar
ouis of Land.downe, who was the friend
of the Kemble family, so Lord Melbourne
was equally the friend of the Sheridan
family, both noblemen being great ad-
mirers of dramatic and poetic talents.
The Prime Minister had given to MIR.
Norton the office of Magistrate in the
city OF London, salary fl,O00, i. e, $4,000,
and which office he still held at the time
of the trial.
NOBLE RESOLVE.
Vlscount Melbourncj,being peer OF
the realm. could have demanded his trial,
literally by his peers, but being the peo-
pies Prime Minister as well as the
Queens, he noblv resolved to waive this
prerogative right and be tried by jury,
as if one Of the humblest of her Majestys
subjects. In this matter was mixed up
polItical animosities against the Premier
by men anxious to have office under a
change of Ministry. The trial took place
in " estminster Hall, the then Sir John
Campbell (afterwarJ Lord Chief Justice)
appearing for defendant rs his Chief OF
counsel, and in his memorable cross exa-
examination of plaintiffs witnesses he
literally anatomized them, and rendered
them useful only for defendant,
One of the vilest attempts to blacken
this iady's character was intamously re-
sorted to lust before the trial. l have
shown in her letter TO me her maternal
grief in reference to her children beng
taken from her. One evening suddenly
appeared before her in her drawing
room friend ofthe family, who said,
and with earnest anxiety: MADAME, If
ycu will come with me- | can take you
Instantly to see and embrace your chill
d,en." She quickly attired herself In
shawl and bonnet, and went into pub
lie carriage ut the door with this believed
family friend. The coachman had his
special orders, and drove TO by-street
and stopped Mt a certain house. lie
handed her out of the carriage, was just
entering the house to see, as she believed,
her beloved children. when she met
true friend; shook hands with him, while
he in amazcment inquired what motive
brought her to that house. She lnno-
Gently replied, ''To see my children In
an instant the true friend saw the posi-
ton of affairs, quickly handed her into
the carriage, himself mounting the box
with the coachman, took the reins and
drove back to the residence OF the IN
tended victim. He suggested to the
friend to leave England with all possible
expedi,ion, and he did so forthwith. Can
the reader CUE : the,h 'lli.h plot? Her chi!-
dr,n were not there; but 1t was house
of notorious I'll fame, and the devil incar-
nate intended To enter that house with
the lady under that false pretense, and IN
the presence Of witnesses, and thus rem
der it probable at the trial that she would
also break her marital vows with Lord
Melbourne, as well as with her apparent
paraulour in that house.
THE VERDICT.
The result of the trial was "\ erdict
for the defendant" the aCquittal OF Lord
Melbourne, and consequently the jurys
unanimous declaration of the innocence
of the Hon Mrs. Norton. The JOY
throughout England was universal; eve
ry grade of society We'd with each other
in congratulations to the poetcss of Eng
land, the slandcrcd wife and devoted
mother. No person felt the joy more
keenlv, never doubling innocence, than
O1ccn Victoria. The lady in England
next in honor to Her Majesty was the
noble and queenly Duchess OF Sutherland,
who in honor Of the event, gave spien-
did evening party and reception at Stai-
ford House.
1t is the etiquette when royal or dis
tinguishcd parsonage is an especial guest
to have printed upon the cards Of invita-,
ton To meet the Princess of Wales,
&c. The Duchess of Sutherland, that no
mistake should take place as to who was
to be her chief guest on that on occasion,
had printed on the cards of invitation
"To NEE. the Hon. Mrs. Caroline Nor
ton" Stafford House never contained
nobler assembly, excep. when Queen
Victoria was the guest.
SHE knew it was leap year, and her
chance had come. Adolphus was toast
ing his shins before the fire when Ara
bella stopped paving ivory" on the
n L H., ha frtstf