The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-11
LADY WLlA CAMPBELL
n PLACED UPON THE WITNESS
STAND.
she Recites the Story Of Her Good
and Charitable Deeds-Mr.
Birds Defense

ease today, Mr.. murphy, CouhsSi 'oi
Gen. Butler, defended his client
against the allegations that he had
been criminally intimate with Lady
Colin Campbell. He said that Gen.
Butler bad visited Lady Colin but
once; that was on April 18Th, when
there was not q single suggestion OF
Improperly, either by act or word.
He denounced the witnesses who bad
testified for the defense, and declared
that perjury was rife and stalking
abroad.
Counsel for DIR. Bird then spoke in
his defense. He said the charges which
had been brought against his client
included adultery and procuring and
coucealing \ miscarriage. II they
were proved, DR.. Birds credit, reputa-
ton and position you'd be destroyed.
He declared that it was monstrous that
such charges should have been made
on such fimsy evidence as the de-
Tense had offered.
The witnesses, continued DR.. Birdie
counsel, had had three years coaching
by detectives and solicitors. They
had become partisans, and had testi-
fed with an anxiety to convict Lady
Colin that was not exceeded by that
displayed by her husband. In the
trial In 1884 the medical evidence
showed that Lady Collins condition
was due TO Lord Colin, and no sugges-
ton was made OF her having had a
miscarriage. DR.. Bird, counsel said,
attended q concert with Lady Colin,
who was taken i'll, He Counsel could
not say whether it WAS true that Lady
Colin had leaned her head upon DR..
Birds shoulder in the cab, but it
would have been discreditable to the
doctor II he had not allowed sick pa
tent TO rest her head upon his shout
der. Counsel alluded to DIR. Birds
delicate position in attending Lady
Colin, who was suffering from dis
ease the nature OF which her servants
did not know. When he consented
10 attend s1ch q case he Tisked meet
ing some day with q Colin Campbell
sensation. DR.. Bird was not accused
until he brought an action for his fees.
LADY collin CAMPBELL WAS THKN
CALLED.
She entered the witness box amid pro-
found silence. She was very pale, and
testified in slow, distinct voice. She
said that until the family meeting AT
Thurlee Square, in 1883, she had ex.
changed letters daily with her husband
when absent. Before their marriage
Lord Colin asked her II she would
consent when married to their oocu.
plying separate rooms She consented
and Lord Colin asked her not to di.
yulge the fact that he had made this
request, but she insisted upon telling
her mother. The nature Of his illness
was unknown TO Der until May, 1888
She never pressed Lord Colin 10 marry
her, but her mother disliked long en-
gsgements. Continuing, Lady Colin
said she was educated in Italy, and
spoke italian and French before she
learned the English language. She
sang, painted and wrote books. She
was also journalist. She sang at
forty charity concerts, not one OF
which Lord Colin attended. She
taught night Glasses OF factory girls
visited the poor in the day time
and served coup for two hours
and worked daily among the
poor Of Saffron Hill. Lord
Colin knew Of every engagement and
OF her work among the poor, and he
never objected. She went into society
alone at her husbands express wish.
He ordered that the fact of his illness
should be unknown. He wished II
understood that he was Engaged in
the House OF Commons. Lord Colin
accepted engagements for both, and
then desired her to 90 alone. HeI
husband went TO Scotland in 1882 with
out q nurse, and she attended him
She left him there in order to visit hel
mother. He was better at that time
and pressed her to go. She ielt i'll the
Grat FIVE days after the contamination
OF the marriage In November, 1881
she was very III, AID was never free
from symptoms until 1885. Hel
sickness was OF varied intensity; soml
times she suffered great pain. She
spoke 10 her husband about her con
diton, and be said: tits OF no conse
quence; all women have that sort Of
thing" Ia February, 1882, Lord Colin
returned home. On one occasion, while
sitting beside her couch, be began
to cry, and said thai people were very
cruel Ia saying that he ought not e
have married on account of his health
The same evening Lord Colin said Il
WAS better 10 90 on the safe side, ant
he told her what precautions 10 take
She followed his directions and il CAV,
her great pain. She consulted Dr.
Bird In November, 1882, aud he ex
amined her. In April, 1883, she wsi
seriously W, and was attended by DR.
Bird. DR.. Hicks was twice summcned
An operation was peri rmed in 0cto
Der, 1888, and she aiterward improved
She did not know the nature OF he
own or OF her husbands illness.
Lord Colin urged her to d miss Rosl
Baer, who he said had gossippet
about him in the kitchen. She wit
pese) objected because she though
Rose a good maid. Lord Colin In
sisted, ard gave Rose a month";
notice. She asked 0'Neil what sht
had been saying. 0'Neil replied
"She said the Duke of Marlborough
visited your room at Leigh Court" L
was untrue that she (witntss) said t,
0'Neil: at is a damned lie Ros,
denied what she was accused Of, cried
and said she was wicked girl. Wit
ness told Rose tina. as she had lied 81
wickedly she (wituess) would with
draw the advertisement for a situation
for her, and would refuse to give he
a certificate Of character. She dis
missed hes forthwith. She never ha,
the Duke OF Marlborough to supper
Sir Philip Miles occupied a room mex
10 hers az Leigh Court. The room OF
the other side was empty, bein
kept for her husband. She did no
know what room the Duke OF Mari
borough occupied. She never Was q
the PuTAest, On the Saturday night Of
which she was accused OF having bee
with the Duke Of Marlborough, sh
went TO the theater with lady friend
On the Sunday following she took te
with Lady Miles and dined with he
mother, Mrs. Blood. Referring to he
visit TO Paris in May, 1884, she sal
she WAS on her way to Italy. I'll
meeting with the Duke OF Marlbol
rough was purely accidental. She wa
once taken i'll at a concert, aud WAS /