The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-03
SPICY DIVORCE SUIT.
SOCIETY IN HIGH LIFE IN ENGLAND
STARTLED.
Countess Russell, Wife Of Earl John Rus.
sell, Wants a Separation, Alleging
Cruelty as the Ground for
Action.

LONDON, Dec. LIN the divorce
division of Her Majesty's high court
OF justice before Mr.. Justice Bull, there
was commenced today a case which
has excited much comment, particu-
larry in the higher walks of English
life. This case is the application of
Countess Russell for a judicial separa-
tion from her husband, Earl Russell,
a grand son of the great Lord John
Russell, on the ground of cruelty,
The troubles between the earl and his
wife have been public talk fol-
months past. At one time ii
was reported that they had patched
up their differences and agreed to live
together nominally as man and wife,
but this report turned out to be un-
founded, and despite his efforts to
keep the matter out of the court the
countess persisted in her determine
ton to push her application for sep
aration.
Illo pdIUlSS W UllS StllU uIS WCll
known in society, and the allegations
have afforded topics for conversation
in many places of polite society.
Sir Edward Clarke, for the petit
oner, in opening the case today said
that the parties to the suit had lived
together only four months, owing to
the inhuman and cruel conduct of the
earl, prior to the separation. The
matter of the countess support was
talked over and the earl agreed
to allow her eighty pounds
monthly for her expenses. This
agreement the earl violated. He
paid the first monthly allowance but
after that the countess received
nothing from him, except checks for
the amount promised, which checks
when presented at the bank were re-
turned dishonored. Continuing his
presentation of the case for the
countess, Sir Edward Clarke stated
that when the countess married she
had marriage portion of 10000
pounds, This money, however, had
nothing to do with the troubles.
When the countess was suffering
from an attack of influenza the earl,
Sir Edward Clarke declares, COM
pelled the countess to accompany him
On reckless drives in inclement wealth
er much to her injury. The earl
made it practice to leave
her room and go and stay late with a
man named Robertson, who was
sleeping in the house. He made the
countess go to the servants closets tC
see if they were provided with proper
requisites. AS evidence of the esti.
nation in which the earl held his
wife, Sir Edward stated that he Otter
said he would like to see her carried
| out ofthe house in q coffin. Sir Ed
ward said that he would compel tn,
countess to arise after she had retireC
and go down stairs and fix the earl's
accounts. Then he would abuse hel
in most profane terms. On more than
one occasion he threw her to the floor
and told her not to move. After deny
ing that his client was at
present or ever had been afflicted
with hysteria, he stated that the man
Robertson was mathematic master
of school at Bath. A serious sug-
gestion against Earl Russell was de-
veloped in his alleged relations with
Robertson, Sir Edward declared, and
his wife could not feel otherwise than
outraged and distressed by these re-
latiOns.
TO show the brutal nature of the
earl, Sir Edward cited instances of
how he used to drag cats about
with strings around their necks. He
more than once amused himself by
throwing cat against the ceiling
until he had nearly killed the poor
beast. The countess demonstrated
with the earl against this cruel
treatment, and thereupon the latter
said it was necessary TO lick the
cat into shape and 1 will lick you into
shape if you don't mind" When the
countess objected to Robertson's
presence in the house, the earl told
her to go to the devil. Continuing
Sir Edward said that the earl was
dissatisfied at the prospect of the
countess not having child. Early in
May the earl and countess proposed to
attend levee. The countess came to
London and stayed at Albemarle
Hotel. She laid out the clothes which
the earl was to wear. When he ar
rived he refused to allow the servant
to dress him and insisted that the
countess should leave the dinner table
and come to their room and act as his
valet. When they returned from the
levee he also compelled her to attend
to him.