Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-06
The Adams.Co,eridge Case.

POINTS OF THE LITTER WHICH LED TO THE SCANDAL
The following are extracts from the letter of Ber-
nard Coleridge to his sister, which was the cause.
OF the recent Adams Coleridge trial In London:
"l1 WEsTBoURNE STREET, December II, 1sS3.-Hy
Dear Mildred: I write to you not only as your
brother, but chiefly as my fathers son, because
feel it to be my duty. write In order that when
misery and unhappiness come upon you-as come
they will--you may not have it to say that you
were not fully warned, and that matters were con-
ceaed from you Are you aware OF the character
up? His family, one and all. viii have nothing to
say to him. Is this all without reason? Do you
know he has failed throughout his life? Why is
because OF his utter want of character and princi
pie. Do you know anything OF his past history?
DO you know OF his behavior on his voyage to the
cape? Do you know he ran away with girl under
age? Do you know that SO strong was the indig-
nation at his conduct that the bishop OF Cape Town
ordered his clergy to refuse to marry him. and that
consequently he, with his high church professions
was married by Presbyterian?
"Do you know that MI. Adams has violent tenn
per? Can you disguise from yourself in your vani-
ty that it is money and position, not you, that he
is schemng to obtain? Are you ignorant that he
personal attractions; that you would not make at
all good wife, and that you would be white ele-
plant to him? What would you think In another
case OF a man who, while never tired Of proclaim
ing that the instincts Of gentleman were abso-
lutte, makes himself at home and accepts hospltali-
ties In house in the absence OF master, when be
declare to the world that you are illtreated at
home by my father Never was there so glaring an
instance Of the danger OF allowing person to have
no want, wish or whim ungratl1ed. Whatever may
be my fathers faults, to you he has been uniformly
1ndulgent beyond anything have ever seen in any
instance"
The statements In this letter the plaintiff de-
nounced on the trial as "unmitigated and unuuall-
fed lies" and dwet seriallm and at great length
on all the allegations In it concerning him. Refer
ring to the charge OF accepting hospitality In
house IN the absence OF Its master, he said 1t
plain and unqualified lie. He never made himself
at home In Lord Cole1dges house in the absence of
Lord CoierIdge, and his iordship never refused to
see him. He had lunched once In Lord Colerdge's
house, but he believed not at Lord ColerIdges ex-
pense, as at that time the household was on board
wages, and Miss Colerldge was paying for
herself out Of her pocket money. The sole hospi-
tality to which he was Indebted to Lord Coleridge
was piece OF bread and butter, which he ate one
day to keep Miss Coleridge in countenance while
taking her lunch. This, he said, consisted OF a
fried sole-or what are called 'slps'-and while she
was partaking OF that sumptuous repast, at her
earnest request and to keep her in countenance
did take q piece of bread and spread upon It piece
Of butter. This is the sole hospitality that have
been indebted to Lord COeridge from the first mo-
ment Of my acquaintance with him to the present
moment"