Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-01
I'd EDITION.
"A COUNTESS STORY.
Suit Against the Earl Of Russell for
Divorce Begun.
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Complaints in Germany About
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LATE NEWS FROM BRAZIL.
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COUNTESS RUssELL.s SUIT.
Her Prayer For Divorce Being Heard IN
London Today.

u
| the countess persisted ia her determination TO
push her application for a separation.
The parties to the suit nre well known in
society, and the allegations and counter
| allegations have afforded topics for converse
ton in many circles of polite society.
Continuing has presentation OF the caso for the
countess, sir Edward Clarke stated that when
| the countess married she had u marriage por-
ton OF I20, 600. This money, however, had
nothing to do with the troubles. When the
countess was suffering from an attack
of influenza the carl, Sir Edward de-
| pany him on reckless drives in Indictment
weather, much TO her injury. The earl made
| 1t practice to leave her room and go and stay
late with a man named Roberts. who was
sleeping in the house. He made the countess
go TO the servants closets TO see if they we're
provided with the proper requisites.
As an 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.
referring to the earls acts, Sir Edward said
that he would compel the countess to arise
after she had retired and go down stairs 20 lock
| up. He would then abuse her in the 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. Sir Edward denied the charge
against the countess that she was OF a hysteri-
| cal nature. When Sir Edward had concluded
his address he called the first witness.
COUNTESS RUSSELL TEsrrrIrs.
This was the Countess Russell She arose
from her seat in the rear of the room and made
| her way to the witness box When she had
| taken her place Sir Edward proceeded to ques-
ton her He first asked regarding the pres
| ence Of the man Roberts in the house and the
| earfs visits to the room occupied by him.
The countess stated in reply that she had re-
hapansa of xis-
its. Sir Edward then asked her if the earl gave
| any reasons for going to Roberts room.
10 this the countess made no reply, but said
that the earl was more unkind to her when
Roberts was in the house.
Replying to other questions, the countess
said the earl had told her that he kept a loaded
pistol convenient; that he would shoot her If
| she annoyed him.
SLIGHT SENSATION.
Upon the conclusion of the direct examina-
ton by Sir Edward Clarke the witness was
| cross-examined by Sir Charles Russell He
opened by asking the countess if she meant to
make any imputation against her husband or
Roberts.
The witness replied with decision, Yes"
This answer, which was given with snap and
vim, created a sensation in the court room.
The witness then added that she had never
made direct charge against either the earl or
Roberts. The countess admitted that she had
Written n iettef 10 l1arrN Mnlrlelller, VINO was
the best man at her wedding assuring him that
she brought no charge against Roberts. adding
that she was in the hands of clever men and
would bring no charges against the earl unless
she was fully able to prove them.
THE SAD STORY.
John Francis Stanley Russell. Earl Russell
and viscount Amberley, was born August II,
1865, and is. therefore. only about twenty-six
years old. He succeeded to the earldom on the
death Of his grandfather, John, the first Earl
Russell
On February 6, 1890. the earl married Mabel
daughter of the late Sir Claude Scott, and very
short time afterward the wife left her husband
alleging that he was cruel to her.
While the earl was at college at Oxford he was
noted for his eccentric theological and political
views, and after his marriage his actions were
such that the countess believed him to be insane
and was in fear of her life. 1t is alleged that
he compelled her to submit to indignities
of a peculiarly horrible nature, aud for
which, upon conviction in a criminal court
the minimum punishment Is seven years i'm
prisonment. The evidence for the petitioner
was said to be of such character that il was
believed the case would be heard in camera
but the proceedings today were in open court
The earl denies each and every one of the al
legations made by his wife and claims that the
whole trouble is due to his mother-in-law.
Sir Charles Russell appeared for the earl and
Sir Edward Clarke, the solicitor general rep
resented the countess.
HER PETITION.
The petition Of the countess states that from
the time she was married, in February, 1890,
until she left him, Earl Russell habitually
treated her with great harshness and cruelty,
terrifying her and injuring her health.
The earl compelled her TO remain until or
o'clock in the morning doing his accounts.
When she was unable to complete them he
"a har a N rafa d xv0 md
ungrateful devil He also threatened her with
q revolver. Not content with abusing and in
sulting her in the privacy Of their apartments
he acted toward her in such a way that she was
Inundated before her servants.
The court room was crowded with large
number of persons, who listened with close at
tention to the proceedings.
The countess, accompanied by her mother
and sister, was present She and her relatives
occupied seats in the back part Of the court
observation Of the crowd. but they listened
eagerly to Sir Edward Clarke as he eloquently
set forth to the court the wrongs Of his client.
Sir EDWARDS OPENING.
Sir Edward Clarke, for the petitioner, in open
ing the case today said that the parties TO the
suit had lived together for only four months
owing to the conduct Of the earl Afterward
the countess was induced TO return to her hus-
band, and they resumed their former marital
IeiouOub. line COutluucu Dut u tQOft tme,
however, when the countess found the earl's
actions intolerable and they again separated.
After this last separation the earl wrote af-
fectiouately to the countess and implored her
TO return to him. The countess was persuaded
against her better judgment and returned TO
her husband. But his affectionate treat
ment Of her was Of short duration:
He again used personal violence against
her and made her life misershle.
Once he drove her from bed and she tainted
upon the floor. When she came 10 she dragged
herself TO the room Of her nurse and spent the
remainder of the night there. The earl sought
her in this room, but she threatened 10 throw
herself from the window II he entered and BY
this threat abe was enabled 10 avoid him
The countess lost all hope OF living happily
with her husband and shs again left him. Prior
TO the separation the matter Of the countsss'
support vas talked over and the curl agresd to
allow her ESQ per month for her expenses
This agreement the earl violated. He paid the
first monthly allowance, but after that the
countess received nothing from him except
cheeks for the promised amount, which checks
when presented ct the bank we're returned dis
honored.
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