The Portland daily press., 1884-11-24
THE OLD WORLD.
News by Cable from Different
Countries.
A Growing Sentiment Against the House
OF Lords.
End of the Celebrated Adams
Coleridge Case

Lord Chief Justice Coleridge is placed in q NEST
nnenviable position before the public by the action
Tor libel brought against his son, Mr.. Bernard Cole
rioge by Mr.. Mantell Adams. Mr.. Adams who is a
journalist seems to be sincere and determined in
his suit, and has thus far managed to secure large
share of the public sympathy He il conducting
his own case, and during the proceedings to-day
endeavored to make strong point morally against
the Coleridges, both father and son. He showed
that he was engaged to be married to the Lord
Chief Justices daughter. He said that the Young
lazy was perfectly aware that he was poor man
compelled to make his own way in the world She
mad not been made the victim of any dseeption in
tnis respect, and entered into the engagement with
a IRl appreciation OF the change in her material
circumstances which the union would entail and
agreed to the marriage from motives OF the purest
and highest affection. When the ladv mazda her
family acquainted with her intention her father
Adams alleged, became furious and treated her
with meanness and harbarity. When he found that
determination, he instigated his son Bernard to
engage in the effort to poison her mind against her
DeLrotnsa. bernard's efforts towards this end cul.
minated In his composition Of the letter to his sis
ter which forms the basis of the present action In
this letter bliss Coleridge was told that her lover
was an adventurer who sought her hand from nm
worthy motives. principal among which was A de-
sire to secure membership in an honored family for
the sole purpose OF securing through her a share
OF It's property. He was further described as a man
utterly devoid of principle and character and was
charged with having eloped with girl under age
takcn ner 10 cape Town ana treated her with great
cruelty. He was held in such odium by his young
wifes parents, it was declared, that they took his
cnlid from hln in order to protect it from his ill.,
treatment. With skillful malgnity the letter
struck at the young ladys self-esteem by allepina
that Adams had admitted to an inouiriug friend
tnst ne was not going to marry Miss Coleridgs for
her beauty. In his presentation of the case TODAY
Adams said that Miss Coleridge was not shaken in
her affection by her brothers efforts and that the
letter served only to excite her Indignation She
Immediately delivered the letter to him n Adams1
Tor such action as he might choose to take upon it,
When her father found this out he disnherited her
and turned out from the parental roof Mr. Adams
further showed that Miss Coleridge adhered to her
engagement, and that she warmly supported him in
his present action against her brother. Teward the
Lord Chief Justice himself Adams was very bitter
describing him as Judge who wenld move
Heaven and earth to frustrate justice when it ad-
versely affected himself his personal interests
Young Colsridgo's plea in defence was that the
letter, being private communication from one
menper OF inc family to another; frem brother to
a sister, warning her of her danger, must be CON
sdered privileged communication and there
fore not actionable. Adams contended that the
law relating to privileged communications must be
confined in its prouection Of only such communica-
lions as those, for instance, which pass between
lawyers and their clients and cannot he ertenSsd
to cover malicious and intended material injuries
LONDON, Nov. 22.-The action for libel broupht
by F. NJ Adams of London, barrister against
Bernard Coleridge was resumed to-day. Adams
continued his opening remarks. He said he had
much affection for Miss Coleridge, but he had no
thought of marrying her. Attorney General James
submitted that the plaintiff has no cause and must
be non suited The judge ruled that Bernard's let
ter was a privileged communication, and that
Adams 10 order to maintain his case must prove
express malice dishonesty on the part on BERNARD
He decided to leave the to the jury reserving
to himself however the right to decide she acton
point of Law in case the verdict was NOT war
ranted by the evidence. The case was submittad To
the jury, who after some dsliberaton brought in a
yerolct Tor the plaintiff of 93, 900. Tue Judge
ogerrued this verdict and gave verdict for Cole.
ridge with coats.
The Congo Conference.
BERLIN. Nov. 22.-At to-day's sitting of the
Congo conference Mr.. Kasson, the American dele
gate, made certain proposals with reference to the
frontiers of the Congo basin. 1t is generally be-
lieved that England has agreed to recognize the
International African Association as a State Tt ia
reported that the agreement of Germany with the
international African Association consists of two
parts The first part enumerates the guarantees
that the association will give to Germany the sec
ond part enumerates that Germany will recognize
the flag of the International African Association
as the nag OF friendly State. The members of
the conference dined with the Emperor William
tonight, and at the request If the Emperor the
deegstes 70 the conference were formally presented
to him. There were eighty guests present. includ-
ing the Crown Prince Freoerick Willism his son.
Prince Frederick William, and the royal family
together with Generals, Ministers and Court off,
clas. Prince Bismarck sat opposite the Emperor
There were no toass offered put after the bahouet
the Emperor entered into quite long conversations
with several OF the delegates, including MIR.
Stanley.
A N2enace TO the House of Lords.
LONDON. Nov. 22.-I the House of Commons
last night Mr.. Henry Labouchere started row by
a mock heroic speech, which was full of sarcasm,
but was tempered by drollery. He arraigned the
peers of England for every minor crime committed
since the hoed. Mr.. Labouchere's speech was made
in advocacy Of his own motion to abolish by act of
Parliament the House OF Lerds a legislative ad-
1pnct. TIE e molten was, of course, rejected, but
the size OF the minority vote surprise every
one. Although the House was very small, there
were Il votes cast in favor of the motion and but
145 sgainst it. Twelve Parneilites voted with the
minority, and more than score of members doeged
the humorous aspect given to the entire proceedings
by MIR. LaboHehere, is considered by some of the
more puritanical of the Conservatives rather omin-
GUS. 1t was not believed possible that such large
registration in the Commons could be secured in
favor of the abolition even "for fun" Many Tory
admits that his eyes havs been opened to the fact
that serious discussion Of the question would show
sentiment strong enough to prove menace to
the existence of the House of Lords as legislative
body.