The evening world., 1891-12-03
EARL RUSSELL ON THE STAND.
Called in His Own Defense in the
Countess's Divorce Suit.
Prof. Roberts Tells Of the Plaintiff
as q Delightful Hostess.
IpY ASSOCIATED pRrss,l

OF abatement. on the contrary, 1t may be
said that on this, the third day OF the pro-
ceedings, the general public displays more
avidity to learn all the details OF this sad ex-
pose OF the life OF one OF Great Britain's
peers.
The feeling entert aimed for Earl Russell by
the masses was amply evidenced by his treat
ment as he left the Law Courts yesterday,
when the mob hooted at him, and some OF the
more hot-headcd tried to strike him. And
there is no denying the fact that the gentle
men and ladies' in the arlAocratic circle to
which the Earl belongs look with contempt
and disgust upon the noble Earl.
The usual crowd sought admission to the
courtroom this morning, and when Mr.. JUS
tice Butt took his seat the courtroom was
densely packed.
Sir Charles Russell arose and continued his
presentation OF the case for the Earl.
Sir Charles declared that the petitioner,
Countess Russell, had not only exaggerated
such facts as she had brought forward, but
had suppressed others which she thought
would be detrimental to her claims.
Sir Charles ridiculed the idea that Earl Rus
sell had kept pistol convenient for the pur-
pose Of shooting his wife. The quarrel be-
tween the Earl and Countess, which occurred
At the Albemarle Hotel at the time they came
up to London TO attend the levee, was due, not
to the Earls compelling the Countess to act
as valet to him, as the Countess had testi-
fed, but to the fact that the Earl had re-
fused to allow his wife to go to the Ascot
races in tho company OF man with whom he
had every ground TO forbid his vile asso-
ciating.
Immediately upon the conclusion OF Sir
Charles Russell's address he called the first
witness for the defense, Prof. Roberts, the
Mathematical Master at Bath, who was in the
habit of staying frequently at the residence
Of Earl Russell.
Prof. Roberts entered the Witness box, and
in reply to questions put to him by Sir
Charles Russell testified that he was friendly
with the Earl at college. He afterwards be-
came acquainted with the Scott family.
After the marriage OF the Earl and Lady
Mabel Scott he visited them at their home.
He had sung with the Countess and had
thought her q charming hostess The wit.
ness made a very emphatic denial OF the ac-
tions imputed to him by the Countess In REIN
tion to the Earl.
The Earl testified that he had never heard
the slightest objection made to the presence
OF Prof. Roberts in his house. lie uhe wit
messy had objected to mis- wife going to GER
tain ladys house, and based his objection on
the fact that the lady was Divorce.
Countess Russell was much put out, and In
the quarrel that followed witness said to
her: al you say such things you will soon
be sorry you married me-" Tho Countess re-
piled: $50 am sorry"
The Earl declared that he had never in
sisted that the Countess should dress him.
II she had not requested him to allow her TO
dress him he would not have let her done SO.
He was very much attached to her and had
tried to make things pleasant for her. He
objected to her going to Ascot for the reason
that there were several persons there whom
he did not wish her to meet.
He positively denied that he had gone to
the room OF the Countess in search Of pistol.
AT the time alluded to his pistols were in a
warehouse and there was not single weapon
OF that description In the house.
With reference to the charge that when the
Countess on one occasion asked him after q
| row for E5 he threw her half q sovereign, the
Earl said II was not true. lie was about 70
give her the money she had asked for when
She said: "I don't want your dirty money"
| IL was not true that he made her turn out
her pockets and took away from her what
money she had. She got c5 in pocket money
the same day from him.
The Earl denied the Countess's statement
| that upon the occasion when lie had wiitten
n letter TO his solicitor complaining about her
| extravaganza he had treated her in a most
brutal manner.
| Iic did not then shake her by the shoulders.
She wanted to copy the letter, nd tried to seize
It. She did get the letter, but lie caught her by
the wrists and took IL away from her. She
then boxed his ears.
Mr.. Inderwick, OF counsel for the Countess,
here asked TO be allowed to put In evidence
| letters that had passed between the Earl and
Prof Roberts TO show the relations that mad
existed between them. SIR Charles Russell
said he could not see any issue requiring the
letters to be produced, but he nevertheless
consented to their being admitted.
Prof. Roberts's testimony being finished, he
resumed his seat and Earl Russell was called
to take the stand in his own defense.
Sir Charles Russell then drew from the Earl
his version OF the bcdrCem incident, when the
Countess was found nude and IN a J.. lint on
the loor, as testified to by her and her maid
! The Earl said that after he and his wife
had retired he declared that he would not &c
TO Lady Sa!isbury's owing 10 the refusal OF the
Countess to so TO Ambtr.y Cottage, the Earl's
residence at Maidenhead, In Berkshire the
Countess got OFT OF bed and lainted ON the
! ioor. When she came to he sald: 4" How arc
you, darling2"
She replied, Don't you dare call me dar-