The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-04-12
An Astounding Case.

The suit of the Earl OF DURHAM for the an
nulment of his marriage brought out facts
which exhibited contemporary aristocrntic
society In England in u very unfavorable
light. Yet it cannot be said that tho sacrifice
| OF beautiful girl to marriage OF ambition
Is a new thing. and hard worldincss is not
peculiar to that society and this day
But trial was concluded In London few
weeks ago which revealed moro than nero
wOrldlincss in the ariStocratic circle 1t
showed positive moral corruption. which
affected not men only. but also women who
move In that exclusive society, as will appear
from brief history OF the case which we
make up from the testimony at the trial.
Miss BEATRICE HoLME SUMNER. the
daughter OF man OF very good social posi-
tion. attracted the interest Of Mr. CHARLES
ARTHUR RICHARD HOARE, a London banker
and u married man, and while she was yet
quite child. and hardly out OF the nur-
scry." he began paying improper attentions
to her. Hor father dcposed that he inter-
fercd, and finally. in July. 1879. induced Mr.
HoAHE, in the presence OF Lord FITzHAR-
DINGE. to pledge himself to discontinue his
intimacy with tho girl; and it was arranged
that she should accompany Lord and Lady
Berkeley Castle. In the spring OF 1881, while
Miss SUMNER was hunting with her father,
sho was thrown from her horse, and SO Sc
vcrcly injured that she was carried to Mr..
HoARE's house, Cicely Hall. which was near
by. There by the doctors commands, Mr..
SUMNER deposed. she remained for three
months, and Mr.. HoARE broke his pledge by
rosuming tho intimacy almost from tho first.
When the father upbraidcd him. he confessed
that he had done so, as also did Miss SUMNER
Subsequently. in December. 1881, Mr.. SUM
NER obtained an order making his daughter.
who was then nineteen. a ward of court and
restraining Mr.. HOARE from having any In
tercourso or communication with her. This
order, 1t was alleged, had been broken by
Mr.. HOARE, and accordingly motion was
made last month before Justice Gritty, ON
behalf of Major KINGsCoTE her trustee and
her uncle, that the banker be committed to
prison for contempt.
The evidence showed that Miss SUMNER
had been rather persistent in her advances
to Mr.. HoARE after the ORDER and that she
had written to him in spite OF 1t. but with
the help and approval OF. Major KINGscoTE,
who also acknowledged that in October, 1883,
after she became OF age he accompanied his
ward and Mr. HoARE to Faringdon to examine
hunting box, which Mr. HoARE took for
her later But, to excuse himself, no said
that they both denied that there was any
thing improper between them.
In September. 1882. ten months after the
order, Miss SUMNER went to visit the
Marchioness OF CHoLMoNDELEY in Cheshire,
staying there for n month. She went again
in November and remained until January,
and during that time. with Lady CHoLM-
oNDELEY's assistance, communicated with
Mr.. HoARE under autographed I'D
dress. Lady CHoLMoNDELEY herself acted
as go-between, writing thus to Mr..
HoARE: "B. Is here. all right and very
nice. What about hunting? / expect
you won't mind 1t. as she likes it. Answer
this to me. 1t is all one" Mr. HoARE, there
FORE could communicate with Miss SUMNER
by writing to Lady CHoLMoNDELEY, who
testified that she showed her his letters
Remember that IIoARE was married man,
and was known rs such to Lady CHoLMoSDE-
LEY. to whom also We're known the order Of
the Court forbiddlng him from communicate
ing with the girl, and the reason for the or
der. No wonder that she said she supposed
she had "acted very wrongly"
Still more remarkable was tho conduct Of