Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-25
coLEEipGrS DEFENCE.
A rev Lib, Thrown GU Very c,'eDraiea
irhiiadelrhis News

A rev LiIhi Jhrewu eu a Very Celebrated
Case.
Irhiiadelrhis NewsI
Mr.. sterhen Coleridge. a son OF Lord
Coleridre, Yesterday stopped over In this
city for day, after coming rapidly from
New York. He put up at the Lafayette
Hotel. Last night he left for pittsburgh,
in order 10 Join Mr.. Irving. who will give
a Chiisimas-Eve dinner In the Smoky Guy
10 the members Of his company and few
chosen acquaintance.
Mr.. Colcridge Is good-looking young
nan OF about tweDty.six years. His fei-
f,ir,s are regular and his face clean-shaven.
To an American gentleman the costume he
wore lest night was not without Its pecu-
liorities.
when he spoke last night about his "a
TIERS unpleasant experience with Mr..
Adams his hands told the story almost rs
wCll ss his words.
Mr.. CoLEEIDGE's STATEMENT.
at should be easy Ia understand" he
said, 'rhe position in which my father was
placed by the course my sister saw tit to
pursue. She had always been treated a. 4
cherished daughter OF the house. Why she
declared that sbe was on board-wages In
NY fathers house / am at loss TO under
stand. She was the had OF the household
and always presided at NY fatbet's table.
To be sure. she was expected TO keep a
general supervision over the household, as
nuy other lady is expected to do, but all OF
the debts she made for family purpose.
were. OF course, promptly met by my
father. For pin-money she received ESQ
year, this sum being intended merely for
her most trifling personal expenses"
Mr.. Coleridge was asked how his sister,
Miss Mildred, first net Mr.. Adams, to
whom she became engaged, and who is
Il e cause Of the celebrated libel lawsuit.
Mr.. Adams" was the reply, sis with
out q shilling. He IL, or was, the paid sec
rotary OF an aDti-vivlsectlon society TO
which my sister belonged, and she first ran
across him in that way. He paid her
great attention. such marked attention that
il was noticed by my father, who, knowing
Of Mr.. Adams's lack Of position and abili-
ly 10 support wife, very naturally en-
dtayored TO put a stop to the intimacy. Mr.
Adams then called upon my father. He de-
clared that he was deyotedly attached to my
sister and demanded her hand in marriage.
Ny sister Mildred is thirty-six years OF age,
ard q responsible person, capable OF choos-
ing for herself. Upon inquiry my father
learned that she was attached to Mr.. Adams,
and therefore determined not to throw any
obstacles in the way Of their union. He
tod Mr.. Adams that be would give my SIS
ter $500 year after her marriage.
MRRCEsARY Mr.. ADAMS.
els that all ~ Mr.. Adams asked.
ayes replied my father, Il will de-
pend upon you. Wait for six months.
IT,. haf inf
means snnuallv to support a wife. II you
can do so, will not endeavor to check the
marriage
mir. Adams showed that he was not
pleased with this. He did not make any
effort TO increase bis income, and before
the six.months' time bad expired returned
to my father and demanded larger dover,
with my sisters hand. This my father re-
fused"
"TheD," said Mr.. Coleridge, continuing
his recital, "my brother Bernard inter-
fered, not in a way, however. that now
meets with the approval OF the family.
From Mr.. Adams's relations he had learned
OF actions on the part OF that gentleman re-
fecting upon his character as true man
Us a gentleman. He wrote letter to my
sister referring to this matter. She showed
the letter TO Mr.. Adams, which Is the main
cause Of the unpleasant publicity which has
arisen"
"why did not your brother try to reiute
these chargesf"
WHY THE CHARGES WERE not REPUTED.
ITO have done so would have placed
Dir. Adams's relations on the witness-stind
against MI. Adams. This my father and
my brother were not willing TO do. For
instance. there is MIR. Adams's grand
mother, who resides IN Cannes. She Is old
and not in good circumstances. We did
rot want to drag her into the mstter-we
could not do it, we felt with full honor"
"Did any OF your family support Miss
COleridge in her actionsI" Lord Cole
ridges son was asked.
"Mrs. Bishop. sister-in.law OF Sir Stat
ford \ orthcotc, took her to her house be-
fore the trouble became public. MIS-. Bish-
ops sister married into our family. Ineed
not hesitate to say that this lady's action
met with disapproyal from Sir Stafford and
lis family"
"Whre is your sister now"
NOT TURNED OUT OF rOORS.
"In lodgings, fancy" said Mr. Cole
ridge, with i little shrug OF the shoulders.
"Sle left my fathers house OF her own
free will before the case came up in court.
Far from being turned out oil doors, as has
been declared. my father was only too glad
10 have her with him 10 receive hi, guests
ard accompany him when upon social duties.
Even row be gives her weekly Cos, which
are paid by hi, lawyer, Mr.. Harrison. Only
few weeks ago my sister wrote to my
father from Ler lodgings, requesting that
grand piano i'll the drawlng-room should
be sent to her. To this demand my father
replied that II she wanted to hire piano
he would gladly pay for 1t, but he wonld
ret send the piano to her from his lesl-
denoc."
AN ACT OP SPITE.
why it Is that she should have adyer-
tiscd for rupils-.he is take the part Of
eovernCss-I ain unable to say, unless it
were for spite. She did this while living
in my fathers house. She j. very well ed
ucated, can speak several languages 6u-
emily. and is a skilled musician. For
number Of years, by way OF amusement,
she had teen teaching a class Of little chill
dren, friends and kindred of the family.
My father approved OF this, for he counted
it pleasant occupation for her. | can as
sure you that she had all she wished. The
carriages and horses were at her disposal
at all tunes. I have known my father TO
refuse invitations 10 dinner because Mil
bred was not invited. | have frequently
seen him toss such notes across the Ia l. to
her with the simple remark, ~ shall
not CO."
at has been said that Mr.. Justice Man
isty IN trying the case acted in behalf OF my
father. Mr.. Justice Manisty is no such
friend Of my fathers that he would do this
Indeed, had he determinedly acted against
NV father he could not have placed him in
n worse position than he did. The suit,