St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-02
4 DEGENERATE EARL.
Great Lord Russell's Grand
son Shown Up as a Vile
Blaekguard.
4 Suit for Divorce by His
Wife Reveals His British
Nature.
Shocking Indignities Alleged,
and Savage Abuses Are
Reeited.
The Ignoble Scion Of a Great
House Plays the Buffoon
in Court.

LONDON, Dee. LIN the divorce di-
Eision of her majesty's high court of
justice. before Justice Butt, there was
commenced today a case which has
excited much comment, particularly in
the higher walks of English life. This
case is the application Of Countess Rus
sell for judicial separation from her
husband, Earl Russell, grandson of the
great Lord John Russell, on the ground
of cruelty. The troubles between the
earl and his wife have been public
talk for months past, and, despite the
efforts to keep the matter out of court,
the countess persisted in her determiua-
tion to push her application for a Separa-
ton.
Sir Charles Russell appeared for the
earl and Sir Edward Clark, the solicitor
general, represented the countess,
whose petition states that from the time
she was married, in February, 1890, I'M
til she left him, Earl Russell habitually
treated her with great harShneSs and
cruelty, terrifying her and injuring her
health. Not content with abusing and
insulting her in the privacy of their
apartments. he acted toward her in such
way that she was Inundated before
her servants.
EnIoIerabIe Abuse.
SiT Edward Clark, for the petitioner,
said thai the parties to the suit had
lived together for only four months,
owing to the conduct Of the earl. After
wards the countess was induced to re-
turn TO her husband, and they resumed
their former marital relations. This
continued but short time, however,
when tile countess found the earl'S ac-
tons intOlerable, and they again sepa-
rated. After this last separation. the
earl wrote atfectionately and imDlOred
her to return to him. The countess
was persuaded against her better judy
ment, and returned to her husband.
But his affectiOnate treatment Of her
was of short duration. He again used
personal violence against her and made
her life miserable. Once he drove her
from her bed and she tainted upon the
floor
Continuing his presentation Of the
case for the countess, Sir Edward Clarke
stated that when the cOutesS was suffer-
ing from an attack of influenza the earl
compelled the countess TO accompany
him on reckless drives in Indictment
weather, much TO her injury. He also
made the countess 90 10 the servants
closets to see if they were provided with
the proper requisites.
Tokens of Love.
As an evidence Of the estimation in
which the earl held his wife, Sir Ed
ward stated that he often said lie would
like to see her carried out of the house
in coffin. Referring to the earl'S ac-
counts. Sir Edward said that he would
compel the countess TO arise after she
had retired and 90 down stairs and fix
them up. He would then abuse her in
the most violent terms. On more than
enc occasion lie threw her to the floor
and commanded her not to move until
he returned and gave her permission.
10 show the brutal nature of the earl.
Sir Edward cited instances of how he
used to drag cats about with strings
around their neckS. More than once he
amused himself by hanging a cat until
he had nearly killed the poor beast.
The countess demonstrated with the
earl against this cruelty, WhereupOn the
latter said twas necessary to Lick the
cat into shape" adding: Il will lick
you into shape if you don't mind" Con-
tinuing, Sir Edward said that the earl
was much upset by the prospect of the
countess not having a child; he abused
her for this, and called her beaStly,
barren woman.
The Savage Sticks Out.
The countess was naturally annoyed
that her husband should force her to
perform mental service, and told him
she was sorry she had ever married him.
The earl at once rang the bell and told
the servant who answered to summon
I NJ V
Lady Scott entered the room the earl
said: Here is your sacred daughter;
take her away as far as you like and
you can go to the devil"
1t was on her return at her husbands
request, after their temporary separa-
ton, that the countess was found one
night nude and in a fainting condition
on the floor in the room occupied by her
ana the earl. The earl told the maid,
who had gone to the room. that some
water had fallen on the countess night
dress, and he had taken it off.
When Sir Edward bad concluded his
address he called the first witness. This
was the Countess Russell. She arose
from her seat in the rear Of the room,
and made her way to the witness box.
The countess said the earl had told her
that he kept a loaded pistol convenient,
and that he would shoot her if she an
noyed HIM. In reply TO question by
OF Edward the countess said that when
she left the earl she asked him to kiss
her. lie refused with an OATH
A Noble Recreation.
There was general titterlng in the
Court room when, during her examina-
Ilon. the countess. in describing a
quarrel that had occurred between her
self ANA the earl, stated that the latter
had rushed about the room yelling and
striking the walls with his fists Con-
tlnuing her evidence, the countess testi-
fed that the earl called her "a barren
brute" and threw her to the floor.
Upon the conclusion Of the direct eX-
animation by Sir Edward Clarke the
witness was crOss-eXamned by Sir
Charles Russell. He opened by asking
the countess if she meant to make any
lmDutatiOn against her husband or
Roberts. The witness replied with de-
clsloh, y es." This answer, which was
given with snap and vim, created a SEN
SatlOn I'll the court room.
IN answer TO question, the witness
admitted that she bad a former engage
ment OF marriage and that it was broken
OIL owing to the condition of her health.
Queens College Friend.
When Sir Charles Russell began to
probe into the relations between the
earl and man named Roberts, who
rOCmed in the house, the interest in the
court room became intense. The wit
ness, however, made her replies in such
low tone that only those close to her
could catch them. She said that the
earl and Roberts had been friends at
college. After the earl undressed to 20