The New York herald., 1877-12-08
THE NORRIS DIVORCE.
AN AGED COUPLE SEEKING SEVERANCE OF
THEIR MARITAL BoNDs--A FRENCH COUNTESS

AN AGED COUPLE SEEKING SEVERANCE OF
THEIR MARITAL BoNps-A FRENCH COUNTESS
THE CAsUs DELLI.
Tho suit for limited divorce brought by Mrs Matilda
Morris against her husband. Colonel Robert G. Norris
Is still in progress before Judge Van Hocsen tho
Special Term oil tho Court OF Common Pleas Owing
TO their prominence in social circles large crowd
thronSed the court room, including relatives and
friends Of tho contesng parties and others, who aro
watching with interest the result OF tho suit
which Is certainly, in some OF It's phases
Of tho most remarkable that has ever
been brought in tho courts Colonel Morris, although
he ia seventy four years or age, looks 10 DO much
younger and style and bearing suggests a gentle
man OF the old school. Ho takcs the matter very
coolly although wncing somewhat undor rigid cross
examination just commenced by tho opposing counsel.
Mrs. Morris, although six years younger presents a.
much more venerable appearance. She represented
by Mr. Matthew /. Brsen counsel and Colonel Nor.
ris by Samuel H. Randall.
ON being called to the witness stand Mrs Norris
told her story In pa,n, straightforward manner, al
though 1t was with evident reluctance she thus laid
bare the secrets oil her domestic troubl She tes-
fod that she was married TO the defendant In
1880; that sixty-eght years old that
the defendant seventy years OF age; that they
lived together until 1854, when they separated; that
they reconcled 1861 and went TO 1.-Two in Jersey
City; that while there he treated her In cruel and
inhuman manner aud that he finally deserted hcr and
their eleven children. She further testified that some
two three days after the dcsorton the defendant
came to her and urged that shc must permit him 10
procure divorce against hcr alleging that shc did
SO he could marry rich lady, after which he would
scttle upon her handsome yearly stipend, an oner
which. sac testified, sns indignantly rejected.
Mrs. Virginia Silver, person OF considerable per.
NAL nno m
couple, called as witness on behalf OF her
mother. She testified, among other things that her
concea mother IN 1861 was tor the purpose of
taking her from the State OF New York into New
Jersey, and by reatment Iorco hcr TO leave nim SO
tuat he might DO able TO apply the stringent laws
OF New Jersey 10 mis- case
W. Morris, son oI tho parties, testified that he
made application several times to his iathcr on be-
half oil his mother for her support and that his fsther
told him that II he inclined 10 do 80 he could not
as he was entangled with another woman. The testl
mony OF another daughter, named Alma Clara Morris,
wnom the athcr In his testimony termed baby, but
who turns out 20 be over twentytwo years oiu, was
u motion was made 10 DISMISS the complaint, but
which was denied
THE coLoNEL's STORY.
aged defendant was the rst witness called iortho
defence He testified that he leased house In Jersey
City, but alter residing there with ms family Tor sew
eral mouths was ordered to leave by u written com
municatlon from his son John; that this made him
leave that he had no objection TO iving with his
vile. He was cross-examlned Al considerable length
by Mr. Brecn, in the Of which some Interesting
facts wero developed.
q Were you the lessee Of a house In Jersey Ci,yG
A. Yes, SIR
@ And who was this son John in whom was vested
authority to order his father OF the premisesP A.
he leased the house over my head.
q Had you paid the rent2 A. No; was out OF
situation ana had not dollar
Y. You say before you lett you invited your wife
ana two youngest children TO accompany your A.
did; but shc refused
O. After you lett where did you wander top A.
Mandcrl ltook room IN White street.
Q. And not having one dolarf A. borrowed the
money.
O And where did you take your msalss A In the
saloon whec had money.
@ And when you badn's. money! A. Then did
tho best l could
Q. And yet you say that under such circumstances
you invited your wife aud two children to accompany
you? Witness did not answer
O. While in Hilton Head, 5. c., did you reside
aloney A. shan't answer that question.
q When you returned did you VISIT your wife? A.
sent my niece, Ida Morris, TO ask my wife to live
with
O Ida Morris, the poctessq WHAT did sho say when
she returned? A. Ida Morris viii be here court
day and she will testify.
z. What were you dong at Hilton Head? A. had
nm appointment, procured tor me by Augustus SchelL
FRENCH COUNTESS.
L. believe that about his time you uaintcd
with q lady by the name OF Madam Degoga A. You
mean the French countess. ies, sir.
q You were on terms of Intimacy with her. A. Tin
quiringlyj what do you mean by Iniimacy2
o. What DO you understand by itY A. Warmly
The Countess was lady, and II you mean TO ask
whether | visited her, did.
u At her residence? A. Yes.
o. Your wife was then in jersey City and you re-
sided IN New York? A. Ycs.
Q. And the Countess resided in Now York; A. She
dio.
At this point tho cross-examinatioE was suspended
TO 10 resumed Monday morning. 10 which time the
Court adjourned.