The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-19
NEWMAN HALLS DIVORCE.
Summing Up Of the Counsel
for Mrs. Hall.
ALMOST NO DEFENCE OFFERED
Harmless famiIianties that Recall a Re-
cent Brooklyn Case.


The hearing OF the Rev. Newman Halls suit for
divorce from his wife resumed in London on
the morning Of August in the Divorce Court before
Sir James Hammer and special jury. Intense in
terest was exhibited in the case. the court being
crowded to its utmost limits. and o great crowd Of
people being congregatcd in Westminster Hall. Sir
Ii. James. MIR. Inderwick q. Co. and DR.. Tristram APP
peared for the petitioner. the Row. Newman Hall;
Mr.. Willis. q. c.. ana Mr.. Baytord for the
spondent. Mrs. Hall. and Mr.. Kempe for the
spondent, Richardson.
Mr.. Willis proceeded to address the jury on behalf
OF Mrs. Haii. There that OF the general rela-
tons Of tho parties and the conduct as deposed at
Frith's Hotel and At Estree in Hertfordshire. and
he might say that continuous had been
the intimacy OF Mr. Richardson and Mrs. Hall
that there had been abundant opportunities
doubleday for committing the offences II they
desired to do SO. and there had been facts
and circumstances in their intercourse which
were capable. as the jury would see.
OF exaggeration and Misrepresentation, TOR it had
been one Of warm. generous friendship and attach
ment, which was manifest in the most open terms
to Mr.. Hail before she left her home. Undoubtedly
Mrs. Hall had kissed Mr. Richardson and had also
kissed other persons to the knowledge of Mr. Hail.
where. If Mrs. Hall desired indulge a sensual
qualification. she could have done So and as his
shortly put this. that Mrs. Halls innocence
was the only justification for Mr.. Halps con-
duct, the jury would that he should ad-
dress them on the topic which he trusted
would establish that innocence to their SAILS
faction and prevent them from drawing inference Of
guilt. which perhaps they might in any other case
because there that in the condition of Mrs. Hall
which was known to Mr. Hall. which prevented the
jury from drawing that conclusion. The
not to be decided the ground that Mr. Hall found
his wife without natural inclination to him. Mr..
Hall desired to put it on that ground. and until
the motive. irresistible and powerful. came upon
him ne would have been the very last man. upon S.se
general relations OF the parties, to put his
they must be satisfied that Mrs. Hall had surren-
dered herself to Richardson before they could fnd
her guilty OK adultery But he asserted that there
was that in the condition OF Mrs. Hail. known to Mr.
Hall. which prevented the jury coming to that con-
clusion.
NEVER SUBJECTED TO TEMPTATION.
If Mrs. Hall had been placed i'll position Of
temptation. which she never was. then Mr. Hall
party to her disgrace. But that tho
case and he did not intend to impute .nything OF
the kind. There was the question OF Mary Wyatt.
upon which ne would have TO comment. No doubt
Mr.. Halls actions in that particular capa-
bic OF explanation. From the time when Mr..
and Mrs: Hall were msrried down to the
present day there was the knowledge Of
Mr.. hall something in the condition OF Mrs.
Hall which made u separation between the two
parties. Ii til twas so there was not the slightest
Justification the conduct OF MIR. Hall. MIR. Halls
justincation was. he contended. Mrs. Halls inno-
cence. THIS case was, indeed. powerful one. and
! he surprised ut the manner in which people in
the court had greedy taken in all the phases Of the
the facts must now be brought out. 1t was con-
tended by his learned friend that Mrs. Hall had
desires which she wished to crafty. and to crafty
| those desires she sought others rather than her
husband. He looked upon that argument absurd.
and did not think the jury would in any degree
credit such story. The learned counsel then pro-
cecded deal with the evidence before the Court.
| He said that 1865 Mr. Hall wrote that his wife
"high minded and generous woman." and in 1867
he wrote that tor the revious wrong that had bcen
done he would forgive her tor the sake OF her father
ters In she referred to the actual cessation OF
cohabitaon. and in the other made reference to the
diminishing of her husbands afection. Mr.. Hall
apologized and again for the pain that he
had gwen her. and he thought the jury would that
Mr.. Hall had acted severely. and that there no
justification for his tauns and diminis hing regard
The learned counsel proceeding to review the letters
which had been written by Mr.. and Mrs. Hall. said
that In one Mrs Hall implored her husband to act
toward her as his wife. and there was evidence in
another handed to Mr.. Hall on the same day that
Mrs. Hall loved her husband long after their in
tcrcourse ceased. letter from the respondent
to the petitioner referred to hs great and hor-
rble defect in my character as wife, That was q
painful expression to make. especially for u woman.
! The respondent further said, II love dear Newman
more than but that one thing is dreadful to
that If it took place it would almost turn my real
love to DISLIKE and further that "no bride or pun
ishment will have the least effect upon me-" 1t
would be seen from these letters that there
desire the part of Mrs. Hail. but that other
hand. il was revolving to her. and yet his learned
friend would have them believe that Mrs. Hall had
desires all the time and that somebody else was graf
| flying them.
| THE oBLIGING CAPTAIN.
Mr. Willis then proceeded to read other passages In
the letters which fully explained the condition Of
Mrs. Hall at the time. and in the opinion of tho
learned counsel justified her action in the matter
Mr.. Hall Wiling that his wife should have hunt
| ing and riding, and there was no need Tor him to
have said that he went to the hunting breakfast to
/ ht TO-. thAr. IL l,ovA
been better to have disclosed the terrible secret
and to nave separated Vt once. than to 20 on
conducting his services At surrey Chapel.
and his wife going hunting and riding. Mrs. Hall
was thrown among men rather than among women
| When Mr. and Mrs. Hall went abroad--she y woman
diseased and in such condition that no medicine
would reach her state-who did he allow to stay
with herY military man. Captain Cotton. Aud
when at Llandudno. who was 1t stopped with her
cause Mr.. Hail know that the only thing which
would her being kept excited
m w.n wA' simIa s eharasss s Taxing s"1 Mr.
Halls own description. Mrs. Hall was excited. dis
! appointed anu vexea. and could not help the sad
ana unhappy thoughts which came into her head
The condition OF Mrs. Hall for years was that Of a
horrible revulsion to any Intercourse. fact Of
which Mr. Hall was perfectly aware. and he thought
lac was perfectly sato la saying that with the ex-
ccption Of the evidence regarding the hotel In Sails
bury street. Strand aud Eistrce, there scarcely
any thing in the that Mr. Hall did not know
when he put record his conviction OF his wife's
| innocence, and when he Withdrew from the suit
because no conscious OF his inability to prove
her guilt.
..nER YOUNG MAN"
Mrs. Hall made the acquaintance of Mr.. Richard
at Tring III 1861 where his parents kept hotel
aud when they had charge OF Lord Londes borough's
horses. At the nrst blush they did not seem to be
the equals OF Mr. aud Mrs. Hall. but he not sure
that those who worked hardest. even though
they occupied lower. station in life.
not observing of much respect
those who were born to higher position. Mr..
frank Richardson was very respectable young
man. His knowledge of Latin was not great. aud