The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-04
LORD DURHAM,s DIVORCE SUIT.
Attempt OF the Earl to Prove that His Wife
Is an Idiot.
London Cable Special,

London Cable Special.
The Durham matrimonial contention was ad
lourned this evening until next Wednesday.
The contest is now narrowed to the question:
Was she mentally unsound on the marriage day!
"a question illustrated by the admission OF Lord
Durham that. although he believed her idiotic,
he continued for months all the relations of hus-
band and wife, The plaintiff is tall, slim and
sallow faced, with black hair, carefully plastered
down, dark mustache and determined chin.
He sat daily beside the solictor-general, looking
nonchalant But when, late this afternoon, the
Archbishop of York, who possesses an ascetic
evidence showing Lady Durham, an in
innate friend of his daughter, to be
perfectly sane up to the time of the marriage,
although shy to odd degree, then the plaintiff 3
face began to be troubled, and still more so
when the Archbishop of York's testimony was
confirmed by that Of Lady Durham's grand
father, the Archbishop of Armagh, who per-
formed the ceremony. Her sister, the wife of
Mr. Gerrard, prominent member of the Jockey
Club, cOrroborated this testimony. A sensation
was created in court when this lovely, fragile
looking woman, in deep mourning for her mother,
entered the witness box to testify for the honor
of her sisters family against the idea of the
marriage OF an insane person being countepanced
for the sake of titled husband There was an
other sensation when the evidence of a similar
character was read of her brother who is now
fighting in Egypt The brothers evidence re-
ferred to the fact that, in giving away his sister
10 AOfu durham, ne lnaQTerCenLiy put ner OH
the left hand instead of the bridegroom's right
An old Scotch superstition was thus recalled,
which is mentioned in an old ballad thus:
"The bride shall be of Joy bereft
Who mocks the altar with her left,
There was much secret medical testimony
taken to-day. Trained barrsters discount the
Defense and aver that Lady Durhams silence
and reserve sprang up from disgust for her hus-
band on being told among other things, by Cos
sips, that her husbands first love and companion
had. on being thrown over by him, pined to
DEATH if she had not indeed committed slow
suicide The whisper went round that Lady
Durham would soon give an heir to the earldom
With medical men the opinion is that such an
event would have the effect of restoring her
reason. Among the many distinguished spectators
were Sir Allen Young, the we'll known arctic voy-
ager, Capt Gladys, Lady Rosedale, the venerable
Lord Gerrard~( enjoying the first baronetage ever
cIeatedl the Marquis of Waterford son of the
famous rollicker in Lady Blessingtons time Rev.
Henry Burnaby, brother of the famous colonel
whose rashness lost him his life at Abu- Klea
and many society swells, at whom the barristers
who had been turned out of their usual seats look
daggerS. Some amusement was excited when a
linen draper said he believed Lady Durham insane
because when he, chairman of deputation to
welcome the bridal couple to their seat made q
speech, her ladyship took no notice of it or him
Sir James Hannah, after surveying the linen
draper from head to foot, made a note Of the
point, looking as If he thought the fact stated
was the highest fact Of shrewd sanity.