The record-union., 1891-12-02
Suit Which Has Excited Comment
in English AriStOcratic Life.
COUNTESS RUSSELL SEEKS A d.
VORCE FROM EARL RUSSELL.
Brutality and Threats of Life the
Grounds of tho Action-The Parties
to the Suit We'll Known in Society.
and the Allegations Afford Topics
for Conversation in Many Circles
of London's Upper Glass.
Special 10 the REcoRp.uN1or.

ION Oh her naJeSGy'S nigh court OF Justice.
before Justice Butt, there commenced to-
day a case which has excited much COM
ment, particularly in aristocratic life.
This case is the application of the Count
ess Russell for a judicial separation from
her husband, Earl Russell, grandson of
the great Lord John Russell, on the
ground Of cruelty. The parties to the
SUIT are well known in society, and the
allegations and counter allegations have
afforded topics for conversation in many
circles Of polite society. The Earl denies
the allegations made by his wife, and
claims the whole trouble is due to his
mother-in-law. The courtroom was
crowded with a large number of persons,
who listened with close attention to the
proceedings. The Countess, accompanied
by her mother and sister, was present.
She and her relatives occupied seats ina
back part of the courtroom, seemingly
with desire to escape from the obserya-
ton of the crowd.
Sir Charles Russell appeared for the
Earl, and Sir Edward Clarke, Solicitor
General, represented the Countess.
The Petition of the Countess states
that from the time she married. in Feb
ruary, 1890, until she left him, Earl Rus
sell habitually treated her with harshness
and cruelty, terrifying her and iniuring
her health. The Earl compelled her to
remain until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morn
ing going over his accounts. He also
threatened her with revolver. Not con-
tent with abusing and insulting her in
the privacy of their apartments, he acted
toward her in such a way that she was
humiliated before her servants.
Sir Edward Clarke, for petitioner, in
opening the case to-day said the parties to
the suit lived together for only four
months, owing to the conduct of the Earl.
Afterward the Countess was induced to
return TO her husband, and they resumed
their former marital relations This con-
tnued but short time, however, when
the Countess found the Earrs actions in
tolerable, and they again separated After
this last separation the Earl wrote affec-
tlonately to the Countess, and implored
her to return to him. The Countess was
persuaded against her better Judgment to
return to her husband, but his affection
ate treatment was of short duration He
again used personal violence against her
and made her life miserable. The Count
esS lost all hope of living happily with
her husband, and she again left him.
Prior to the separation the matter of the
Countess support was talked over, and
the Earl agreed to allow her eighty
pounds mouth 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 prom
ised, which checks, when presented at the
bank, were returned diShOnOred
In presenting the case for the Countess
Sir Edward Clarke stated that when the
Countess was married she had marriage
portion of 100000. This money. how
ever, had nothing to do with the troubles.
an attack of influenza the Earl, Sir Ed
ward declared, compelled the Countess to
accompany him on reckless drives in in
clement weather, much to her injury.
The Earl made it a practice to leave her
room and go and stay with man named
ROBERTS, who was sleeping in the house.
AS evidence OF the estimation in which
the Earl held his wife, Sir Edward stated
that he often said he would like to see her
carried out of the house in coffin. Re-
terrlng to the Earl's accounts Sir Edward
said he would compel the Countess to
arise after she had retired and go down
stairs to fix them up. He would then
abuse her in most violent terms. On
more than one occasion he threw her to
the floor and commanded her not to
move until he returned and gave her per-
mission. After denying that his client
was at present, or ever had been, afflicted
with Mysteries, he stated that the man
ANCONA - " ebSS Il AAidtlCDldllCdl HldSl0C Oh q
school at Bath. A serious suggestion
against Earl Russell was involved in his
alleged relations with Roberts. Sir Ed
ward declared that his wife could not feel
otherwise than outraged and distressed
by these relations.
To show the brutal nature of the Earl.
Sir Edward cited instances how he used
70 drag cats about with strings around
their necks. More than once he amused
himself by throwing cat at the ceiling
until he nearly killed the poor beast Tho
Countess demonstrated with the Earl
against this cruelty, whereupon the latter
said: Il will lick you into shape if you
don't mind" When the Countess OBJ
Jected to Roberts presence in the house.
the Ear! told her to go to the devil.
Continuing, Sir Edward said: ''The |
Earl was much upset by tho prospect of
the Countess not having child He
abused her for this, and called her a |
beastly. barren woman. Early in Nav
the Earl and Countess proposed to at
tend levee. The Earl made her act as
his valet while in London. The Countess
was naturally annoyed that her husband
should force her to perform menial serv-
ices, and told him she was sorry she
ever married him. The Earl at once
rang the bell and told the servant who
answered to summon Lady Scott, the
Countess mother. When Lady Scott en-
tered the room, the Earl said: Here is
your sacred daughter; take her away as |
soon as you like, and you can go to the |
devil 1t was on her return at her hus-
bands request, after their temporary
separation, that the Countess was found |
one night nude and in a fainting condi- |
ton on the floor, in the room occupied |
by her and 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 concluded his adj |
dress he called the first witness. This |
was Countess Russell. She arose from |
her seat in the rear of the room and made I
her way to the witness box. When she |
had taken her place, Sir Edwin pro- |
ceeded TO question her. He first asked |
regarding the presence of the man Rob- |
erts In the house, and the Earrs visits to |
the room occupied by him. The Countess
stated IN reply that she had demonstrated |
With the Earl because of these visits. Be |
ing asked II the Earl gave any reason for |
gong to Roberts room, the Countess |
made no reply, but said the Earl was |
more unklnd to her when Roberts was in /
the house. Replying to other questions, /
tne countess said the Earl had told her |
he kept a loaded pistol convenient, and /
would shoot her if she annoyed him. !
w hen she left the Earl she asked him to /
KISS her, and he refused with an OATH
describing the quarrel that occurred |
between herself and the Earl, the |
countess stated that the latter rushed |