The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-09
LADY COLIN.
FURTHUR PROCEEDINGS IN
THE GREAT ENGLISH
DIVORCE SUIT.
a STATEMENT TENDING TO sUG-
GEST THE PROBABLE CRIMI-
NALITY OF DIR. BIRD.


hosa Baer, formerly ladysmaid to the p'aintih,
testified for the defense. She said the Duke of
Marlborough frequently visited Lady Colin Camp
bell. He usually came in the afternoon and was
familiarity between Lord Colin Campbell and
Mary Watson. In June, 1882, Lady Colin, who WAS
at the time in company with Lady Milee, called
witness. Lady Miles told witness she had black
ened her mistress character and must leave. Lady
Colin gave her ten pounds (S5u)--four only being
due for wages-and told witness to tell the servants
that her father was ill and she was going home
Lady Colin, added witness, said that she considered
witness as a sister, not servant, and kissed her
goodbye. saying II was Lord Colin Campbell who
had dismissed her. Witness had posted letters
daily TO the Duke of Marlborough. She some
times took them to his house. Lady Colin used to
leave the house at in the evening and return as
late rs the following morning. On some of
these oc asions witness would accompany her
mistress short distance from her house ana there
be told to return On these expeditions Lady
Colin usually carried large felt hat concealed in
her cloak. sometimes in undressing Lady Colin
after her return from these absences witness
found her dress partially disarranged. Once
witness found genteman's handkerchief In
Lady Collins room at Leigh Court. Plaintiff said
she knew to whom it belonged and took it. Once
witness heard somebody after midnight ascending
The stairs, Lady Colin coughed. The person then
entered the door of a room adjoining plaintiff g.
The door OF the room was shut. Witness was dis
missed next day. Witness found evidences that
the room had been occupied by two persons. Once
witness heard the Duke of Marlborough in Lady
Collins room during the afternoon. On one occa-
sion, while witness was brushing Lady Colin 3
the room tried the door, finding It locked, the per
son departed. Witness saw Chief Shaw walking
outside the house.
At the same time there was a carriage in wait
ing. The carriage went away and Chief Shaw en-.
tered the house. Witness often mailed letters to
Chief Shaw from Lady Collins. Being cross-ex-
amined witness admitted that she cried when she
was dismissed from Lady Collins service, and that
she said she was sorry she had talked to the ser
want. She denied, however, that she admitted she
had been wicked gossiper. She admitted she had
written to Lady Campbell both from abroad and
after her return to England, and that plaintiff new
er answered her letters. She denied having
threatened to ''expose Lady Colln,' when the lat
ter allowed witness letters asking for money TO
remain unanswered.
AT this poict counsel for plaintiff cross-examn-
ed Miss Baer very closely, and she admitted that
two weeks ago she had signed statement
that Lady Colin Campbell dismissed her be-
cause she knew too much about her; that she
had thought it necessary to tell Lady Colin that
she would expose her. Being asked to explain
how it come that she eigned such statement and
now admitted that it was untrue, witness said: u
thought IL true then; think. 1t untrue now
This recantadon caused d sensation among the
audience
mitted that the duke of Marlborough always called
upon Lady Campbell during the usual visiting
hours, and came two, three and sometimes five
times weekly Witness posted letters u the duke
day. On occasions when she took letters to the
dukes residence, she put them into the letter box,
rang the bell and ran away home. She had been
instructed to do this on these occasions. witness
then admitted that the statements she had made on
her direct examination, that she had
found in undressing her that
Lady Collins dress was open at the back, the skirt
disarranged and her peticoats out OF order on oc-
casions when the plnintif left home early in the
evening and returned in the early morning, were
not true. Witness had not found Lady Camp
| ~. l,aI fA.n auf
unlocked Being further pressed, witness ad-
mited it was not the petticOat but the skirt that
was simply unlocked, so that che could see the
petticoat beneath the skirt. That was all Under
further pressure Miss Baer admitted that she had
never suspected that anything was wrong between
Lady Colin Campbell and any person but the Duke
of Marlborough Witness admitted that in 1881 ,ant
six weeks ago. she signed statements alleging that
abe went to Leigh court during
the Christmas holidays with Lady Colin Campbell
and describing the position of the rooms occupied
| by her mistress and by the duke or Marlborough
as adjoining, and further alleging tnat the duke
paid great attention to Lady Colin. Witness how
ever, now admitted that was mistake; that It all
occurred at Easter This testimony caused another
sensation. Counsel for plaintiff, added more pres
| sure and Miss Baer finally admitted that the duke
| of Marlborough was not at Leigh court at Christ
| mas. She also admitted that the statements she
had made in her direct examination about hearing
some one ascending the stairs one night and enter
| the room adjoining Lady Colin 8, and finding
| gentleman's handkerchief in Lady Collins room
next morning, and other Indications tina
| two persons had occupied the room were untrue
| Witness original statement she continued, die
not cav that two persons had occupied the room OF
the occasion referred to. Witness only remem
bered this incident last week. Nearly every one o
| Miss Baer's admissions, under Cross examination
provoked excitement and sensation, in view OF th,
damaging effect upon that side OF the case, which
was largely built upon what she had preyiousl.
| ct tied in writing.
| Characterization OF Mics Baer continued a
| some length. Being asked to confirm her state
ment that the duke Of Marlborough and Lady Coli
sat together like pair of lovers on seat In Tad
| dingtOn railway station, witness simply said 81
was sure it was seat on platform. Being referred Z
her statement to the man servant ONeill, that Lad
| Colin passed every night at Leigh court with III
duke of Marlborough, witness denied she ever toll
| ONeill any such thing She simply toldthim "sh
| thought so - Replying to an interrOgatOry by th
Judge witness said she believed the duke Of Mari
borough and plaintiff were together nightly whe
| their bedrooms adjoined at Leigh court durin
| Easter season, 1882, but witness had no reason I
believe they were together at other times.
The Judge asked why che told the men servant
O'Neill they were together at night at Leigh conr
during the Christmas holidays OF 1882
Witness answered.: 'That cannot be So" Thi
cont ADDICTION caused a sensation
After recess Miss Baer did not at once Bpperr Of
the witness stand. The judge took his seat an
waited five minutes, when he sent for the yonn
woman. Mics Baer came complaining OF fam
ness. Resuming her place, she said Lady Coll
Campbell possessed q peculiar door ky; 1t had
tongue on both ends. Witness imagined one en-
| was TO lock her own house door and the other 10
that of the Duke Of Marlboroughs residence
Witness said Lady Colin used prev, ntiye med
cines. She got eick every time she ueed them, bu
witness did not infer from this her mistress wa