The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
So All the Stories Told of the Misconduct of
the Lord and the Lady Must Be Untrue
The Jury Thinks Butler No Gentleman.
Agents of the Irish LeagueCollect Rents
in Spite of Police Precautions.
The German Army Bill Will Be Passed, Prac-
tically in It's Present Shape, Notwith.
standing Objections by Cable.
VERDICT IN THE c. MpBELL CASE.
Both Parties Declared Not Guilty-The Jury
Opinion of General Butler.

Opinion of General Butler.
LONDON, Dec. 20.-Sir Charles Russell con-
cludei his argument for Lady Colin Campbell,
in her divorce suit against her husband to-day
The judge proceeded at once to sum up the
case for the jury. He said Lord Colin Campbell
denied his wife's charge of infdelity. which de-
pended chiefly on the testimony of Lady Miles,
Whatever might be said against Lady Miles by
the defense. it must be admitted that she was,
until lately, Lord Collins friend; that she had
done all in her power to discourage the bringing
of the action against him. and that she only took
Lady Collins part when she became convinced
that unjust charges were to be brought against
that lady The testimony given by the doctors
that Mary Watson was virgo intacta did not
negative the testimony given by Lady Miles that
she saw Lord Colin and the girl in such a posi-
tion to warrant the belief that the pair
guilty. Suspicion, however, the Judge said, was
insufficient If adultery was not proved as
fact, the jury were bound to find that Lord
Colin innocent. AT the last trial. in
which Lady Colin secured decree of separa.
tion, it was shown that Lord Colin had given
plaintiff disease in such manner to amount
to the cruelty which she alleged as the basis of
her petition for separation. In the present case
the evidence against Lady Colin depended on
what the family servants said. This should be
received with suspicion. In regard to the Pur-
fleet incident, the judge said that there were so
many important examples of mistaken identity
that the jury would be compelled to carefully
consider whether sufficient evidence had been
adduced to reliably establish the statement that
the lady who was there with the Duke of Marl-
borough was Lady Colin Campbell II Neptune
Blood's testimony was true, shat he saw Lady
Colin that day at home. then the Purfeet
story was demolished The allegations of Lady
Collins adultery at Leigh Court he said, de-
pended for their confirmation entirely upon the
testimony of servants and chiefly upon that of
Rosa Baer, whose fellow-servants had described
her as a chatterer. Moreover, the other wit
ncsses had contradicted her statements upon the
most important points, and she herself had, up
on cross-examination, done the same
1t must, therefore, be considered that
her testimony as to the incidents
alleged to have occurred at leigh Court had
been broken down. AS to the story that the
Duke of Marlborough was seen with Lady Colin
Campbell on the platform at Paddington Sta
tion, the justice declared his belief that Rosa
Baer had invented the tale from beginning to
end and charged the jury to give it q consider
alton whatever.
In regard to the conduct of Lord Colin Camp
bell toward his wife while she was in Paris. the
Judge expressed his opinion that it was simply
outrageous, and said that he had never known
of anything more dishonest, cowardly AID alb
jectly shameful than his Lordship's attempt TO
cast his wife into prison for prostitutes. The
evidence concerning the key hole in the dining
room door at Cadogan Place the justice said
he could not regard with favor, ard the only
thing for the jury to determine respecting that
part of the testimony was the question whether
the testimony of Captain Shaw. distinguished
public servant, was not worth more than the
story told by ONeill
Regarding the charges of Lady Collins Grim
inal intercourse with General Buuler, the court
said General Butler ought to have come into
court and testified whether he was innocent or
guilty. If he were innocent. it would be impos
sible 20 exaggerate the extent of his meanness
and cowardice in deserting Lady Colin, particu-
larly at time when his presence might be nee
essary to the preservation of her reputation
However, he added, the jury must not construe
his absence as evidence of guilt.
The jury then retired and after brief alb
sence returned to the courtroom, stating that
they were unable to agree. The Judge gave
them additional instructions upon points not al
together clear to some of their nu mber, and sent
them back to the jury y-room to reconsider the
case.
At 10 o'clock the jury came into the court and
announced the following verdict:
I'VE find that Lord Colin Campell had not
committed adultery, as charged, and we also
find that Lady Colin Campbell has not been
guilty of adultery with any of the correspond
ents."
The jury added a rider to their verdict stat
ing their opinion that the conduct of General
Butler was unworthy Of gentleman and an
officer, and explaining that his failure to come
into court and testify had caused the only diff
Guilty the jury had experienced in deciding upon
a verdict without delay.
The verdict was loudly applauded
The newspapers, in their comments on the
Campbell trial, express the opinion that, though
the verdict is unsatisfactory, the jury could have
come to no other conclusion, and that the case
shows the necessity of an alteration of the di-
vorce proceedings in the direction of camera
trials.
THE IRISH LEAGUES PLAN.
The yandeleure Rents Collected, Despite the
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