New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-02
LORD LONSDALE AT THE TOMBS
TEsTlFYING AGAINST DE BENsAUDE.
MISS CAMERON GIVES HER TEsTIMoNY-THs HUS'
BAND SAYS HE WANTS no MONEY.


The case of David de Bensaude Miss Violet Came
rons husband tried yesterday in the Special Ses-
sons Court In the Tombs before Police Justice Smith
A largo crowd was present, made up mostly OF tho
usual frequenters of the dingy old room and they
seemed to appreciate keenly the novelty of seeing
genuine peer Of the British realm the witness stand
and hearing him discuss his relations with the actress
and Ter little arkcompIexioned husband.
Mr.. do Bensaude who had spent the night IN tho
Twsnty-ninth Precinct Police Station, was taken to
the Tombs by Officer Cruise. He went INTO the
officers ROOM where his counsel Michael Jacobs, was
awaiting him. There was nothing about his appear
ance to indicate that his oeeping quarters bad nos
been perfectly agreeable and he looked az refreshed
and cheerful as Lord Lonsdale. who had slept ~
usual at Delmonicos. The latter arrived with Miss
Cameron in cab shortly after De Bensaude They
went to Howe & Hummeps Offices first, but remained
there only short time. The court room was kept
clear Of people until little after 10 o'clock. When
the doors were opened the plaintiffs and the defend
ant with their lawyers seen In group within tho
incIosure Little Mr.. Humme sat directly In front
of the bench. Lord Lonsdae lounged in q chair at
his rpht and Miss Cameron occupied seat at tho ieft
She was tastefully attire In black suit OF cashmere
and seemed entirely at case She wore black straw,
velvet and fower-trimmed bonnet, undressed kid
gloves and pair of handsome gold braceets. These
last and cluster of diamonds which fastened tho
lace chu around her neck we're all the tewelry that
she wore. Lord Lonsdae wore black sack coat and
striped trousers and diamond pin was In his necktie
De Bensaude wore no jewelry OF any KIND, out was
neatly clothed and sat with his counsel at the end OF
the table about five feet from his wife, Tie smiled
now and then toward his wife. but she looked dagsers
In return
A., soon as Justice Smith had taken his seat tho
prisoner was put upon the stand. HIS counsel moved
for his discharge on the ground that the complaint was
trumped.up charge which had simply been mad" to
get his client out of the way OF Miss Cameron ana
Lord Lonsdale neither OF whom De Bensaude had tho
least intention of iniuring Mr. Hummel In reply
declared that there was deliberate intention on tho
part Of the prisoner TO kill MAIN shoot" his wife.
because of her refusal to pay him 81. 500 to 90 to
Morocco or some equally remote place. Ihe law ns
thought was bound to protect MISS Cameron from the
scoundre" who had never supported her or her chiu-
At the request of the prisoners counsel the case was
adjourned until 2 o'clock, DE oensaude going oacA
TO bis cell in default of bail.
Mis-. Cameron took the stand when the case was re-
sumed She was closely questioned by Lawyer
Jacobs as to her relations with Lord Lonsdae. She
said that she was married to De Bcnsaude about two
wears ago and they had child. Her husband had
never supported her and she had suit for divorce
from him now pending in the London courts
Were you ever charged by your husband with
adultery with Lord Lonsdale ~ che was asked.
Yes she replied considerably excited, " but the
suit was discontinued" Sic could not remember
where or when she first met Lord Lonsdale. DE Ben
saude had not, she admitted. annoyed her directly
since her arrival here; in tact she had no CONVERSE
ten with him.
Miss Cameron added that Lord Lonsdale had told
her that DE Bensanc had threatened to mann or dis
of OF Monday
he received 800, and she believed IT. In answer
To Mr. Jacobs she said that she was not aware thai
Lord Lonsdale had rooms the Hotel Madison where
she lives In speaking about her relations with tue
earl she looked her questioner squarey In the lace
with perfectly steady gaze.
Hugh Cecil Lowther Earl of Lonsdale was next
called He said that he twcnty-nine years old
and every body looked surprised. lie looks at least
ten years older. Demonicos, he said, was his pres
ent abode. He then told about DE Bensaudes visit
to him on Wednesday in regard to sending letter to
Miss Cameron.
81 told him. said the witness, that he had better
send it through her lawyer, If it was a request tor
money l asked him if he remembered telling his
solicitor thar he would keep away from Miss CamersA
in this country. told him that to help him had
placed myself III false position aud now to add
insult to injury he wanted my aid to get 9l,oOO nom
his wife" The witness then repeated the statements
made by Miss Cameron about DE Ben saudes threats,
adding that Mr. Jacobs, the prisoners lawyer. had
advised his client shoot the earl This provoked
n roar of laughter. On beng cross-exaEiincd Lord
Lonsdale said that he married and in correspond
ence with his wife, who was coming here soon. lie
SAID that lie had known Miss Cameron aoout siI
months.
brought against Miss Cameron by her husband ~
asked Mr. jacobs.
Atter considerable evasion he admitted that he was
aIan flat ha had h.en fed al
assaulting De Bensaude aud fined forty shilings lilo
said that the reason why he did not avoid DE Benz
saude here was that he wished the puole 10 Know as
him to trustee tor his child about six months
ago.. ~. -. -, H., ~, ..5 NJ
Until he tried to cut his wifcs throat at Porto
Bello"
"No. | did tell him. that would let him take
pistol if he wanted three shots at me and give MT
three at him. lie further denied that he had eves
sor ped at the same hotel with Miss Cameron in Lon
don 1t was DE Bensaudes frequent visits to the iof-
man House to see his wife, he said. that caused Mr.
Stokes to ask her to leave that hotel Miss Camerons
suit Tor divorce begun, lac said, in July her
husbands not till September.
DE Bensaude took tue stand. lie SAID that ne was
thirty wears OLD lie denied making any threats and
said that Lord Lonsdae had asked him to call. Then
he became angry and broke out in a niece tlrnde
against his wife and Lord Lonsdae. When asked If
he knew of any improper conduct between them he
admitted that he did not Lord Lonsdale he declared.
had offered him $1,000 to leave the country; but he
added in a dramatic way; | did not come here tor
money but for the honor of my wife" lie asserted
that be had contributed to his wie's support. but
declined to say how much. When they travelled
together on the Continent he paid the bills. Miss
Cameron leaned over and whispered TO her counsel
We're not those Continental bills sent back To her
unpaid o. broke in Mr.. Hummel.
De Bensaude mumbled something in reply about
overcharges. He denied taking any Of his wiies
jewels In London. ~
The hearing was adjourned until Monday. but the
prisoner waived further examination and was held Tor
trial in the Court Of General Sessions The papers N
the case r be sent to the District Attorney to-day.
The Justice refused to reduce the bail from ~ 900
and De Bensaude sent to the Tombs, no one APP
bearing to 90 Oh his bond lie denounced his arrest
an outrage. His counsel sent cable disptach 10
Peytus n Peyius. the pris ,uers counsel in London.
asking il they would be responsible tor the prisoner.