The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-21
NEWMAN HALL DIVORCED.
The TribulatiOns Of Thirty
three Years.
x STABLE BOY LOVER.
Sensible Verdict OF the Jury Without
Leaving Their Seats
LONDON, August 8, 1879.

LONDON, August g. 1879.
This is supposed popularity to be the "London
silly season.. but except few eters to the EDITOR
in the Ti,aes from British tourists. about the
weather in Switzerland and hotel charges in Ger
many &C., there has yet been no indication Of q
dearth of stirring subjects. The divorce court
that last plank of drowning editorials come to
the with the suit Of a famous preacher, the
Rev. Newman Hall. against his wife, for q dissolu-
ton of marriage account of her adultery with
a stable keeper. The case is replete with de-
tails vile that only a divorce lawyer
contemplate them without pollution. and sub
jecs OF the most private description have been dis
cussed in all their nakedness. Yet the modest
British matron has been present at the trial in
mendous force with her luncheon basket day after
day. and the virtuous English press has reported the
with surprising precision. The Rev. Newman
Hall is US well known In America here. During
the rebellion his voice rang from John O. Groats to
Lands End in behalf of the Union and Of freedom.
and alter years Of eloquent advocacy of the
Northern he sailed for America and there APP
peaed to the people in behalf of international good
will and did much to allay the bitter feeling
against England. He made yet another visit to
the United States for the purpose and was
everywhere received with great honor His magnif-
cent church in the Westminster Bridge road is one
of the finest in London. The Lincoln Tower. sur
mounting the church, it will be rememb ered was
erected by the joint subscription of America and
England. The Stars and Stripes inwrought in
the stone and the American eagle and British lion
adorn its angles. Christ Church will scat 1900 per-
and 1t is crowded every Sunday.
UNHAPPILY MATED.
During all these most exciting years of Mr.. Halls
unhappy character. He married in 1S46 .
Miss Gordon. bright. handsome girl of
had been spoiled by her fond parents. Naturally
erratic self willed and vain she soon showed herself
was this time thirty years Old his genius and
power OF eloquence was making his name then
felt beyond the town of Hull. where his
begun. He was indugent and consderate and seems
to have denied his wife nothing. and it was not till
his removal to London. eight years after his mar
by her vagaries. At this time their disputes began
and while Mr. Hall was in public establishing his
right to be called the successor of the grand old
Rowland Hill. his wife was doing her best
to distract him and drag him down. She
wife, she showed fondness for horses and hounds.
and it favorite amusement Of hers to sit up at
night smoking cigarettes while her husband was
asleep.
TOO INDULaENr.
Mr.. Hall continued to indulge his hayward wife
against her conduct. But in 1868 matters reached
crisis. young man connected with livery stable
began to show great attention to Mrs. Hail. and that
lady recprocated his attachment her affection
for this young man Richardson increased, her love
purposes she became divorced from Mr. Hall, and
from that time they occupied different rooms.
Many times during the next ave years he begged her
to return but in vain On April H. 1867, he wrote:-
at is twentieth wedding day. For several years
it has passed uInoticed. but not forgotten by me.
You have recalled it. This far better while
you refused to live with me q wife. Surely your
conduct, persevered in with scarcely an exception
for four years. Is wrong against God as we'll AZ
against me-
HER STABLE boy.
Mrs. Hall only replied 81 will not. Ihave q re-
pugnance to it, But while she repulsed her nus
band her relations with Richardson became the sub
WI in ha hah Of sif nm vyfh
Richardson in the kitchen until three in the morn
ing. smoking Cigarettes and nd. drinking gin and
when they were alone and they often
kissing one another while Richardson held her
undressed and he was frequently in hers. She was
in the habit OF changing her riding habit at the
son was employed and the room selected for this
purpose was Richardson's bedroom. Much Of this
ings. but without result. Richardson refused to
obey, alleging that his affection tor Mrs. Hall
pure and innocent Mrs. Hall admitted the kissing
und hugging, but vowed that it was all platonic.
SEPARATION.
In 1869 Mrs. Hall left her husband entirely and
judicial separation took place year later Matters
gradually came to the husbands which led him.
in 1873 to begin proceedings for divorce. but he did
not have sufficient evidence put the result beyond
doubt. aud. moreover, he then building his
church and he feared the proceedings would injure
drawn. but more evidence of his wites msdoings
to his notice and the present suit there.
upon begun. There was sufficient evidence OF guilt
i'll all conscience, tor three persons ut Firhs Hotel
testified that Mrs. Hall aud Mr. Richardson slept
there nights in 1870 and there also evidences
of guilt forthcoming from a lodging house keeper
in Brighton
NO DEFENcK AT ALL
The defence set up unique Besides o general
denial by Mrs. Hall and her paramount, there was
little conflicting testimony Mrs. Halls CHIEF point
objected to all intercourse Upon this subject Sir
James Hammer, in charging the jury. said abe
OF this repugnance it is argued that every.
thing she did away from her husband right and
innocent; but. IL you admit that doctrine it allows
u woman so minded AS Mrs. Hall to do just what sue
pcases. She has only to refuse the of her
husband for sufficient time to convince him
that she has desire. and then forsooth. she may
do what she pleases short of being actually seen
in bed with man. This lady says she does not
for the opinion OF the world. and she her
husband ut defiance. Well if she were a widow she
would be entitled in sense. to the world
doiance-she would only have to settle between
self and her conscience; but q married woman has
to consider her own reputation in connection with
that of her husband. She Las. in fact. right to
set the world at defiance; and it should be borne
spse is the very world that has to Judge her.
COUNTER CHARGE.
Another interesting phase OF the trial tho
counter charge of adultery against MIR. Hall, tho
lady in the being Miss Mary Wyatt. a lady to
whom Mr.. Hall has been attached for many years.
anu whom he acknowledged he intepded to marry
II he obtained divorce. The counsel for Mrs.
Hall throughout the case made as much Of this
jury and bringing in mass OF evidence which
Mr.. Hall prepared to refute had no
been given the opportunity. But when I'LL
that could be made of the charge had been
made the willy lawyer Withdrew the accusation. Mr..
Halls conduct upon the stand was digniAed and
frank to extreme. He has become gray since he
visited America, but his tall. slender figure Is
chans cd. His face has tho same vigorous. shrewd
look. and ono would not dream that he could be
weak az this painful domestic scandal has shown
him to be.
Mrs Halls demcanor on the stand was remark
able, and 1t is only mercy to believe her slightly
touched with insanity. She pert, but contradic.
tory. and when driven into corner by her
fol