Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-04
SEDUCED THE MAIDS
Earl Russell Admits the Soft
impeachment.
A Rascally Nobleman on the
Witness Stand.
Compelled to Testify Against His
Own Character.
Damaging Admissions Made by the De-
fendant in Countess Russell's
Suit for a Legal
Separation.
Associated Press Dispatches.

densely packed with an eager audience
Sir Charles Russell continued his
presentation of the case for the earl
which was interrupted by adjournment
yesterday. He declared that the
petitioner, Countess Russell, had moi
only exaggerated such facts as she
brought forward, but had suppressed
others which she thought to be detri
mental to her claims. Sir Charles ridi
culed the idea that Russell kept pistol
convenient for the purpose of shooting
his wife. The quarrel between the earl
and the countess, which occurred at che
Albemarle hotel at the time they came
| up to London to attend levee, was
due, not to the earl's compelling the
countess to act as valet to him, as the
countess testified, but the fact that the
earl refused to allow his wife to 60 to the
Ascot races in company with a man
with whom he had every ground to for
bid his wife associating.
Immediately upon the conclusion of
Sir Charles Russells address he called
the first witness for the. defense. The
witness was Professor Roberts, mathe-
matical master at Bath, who was in the
habit OF staying frequently at the resi-
dence of Earl Russell. Professor Rob-
erts made very emphatic denial of the
actions imputed to him by the countess
in relation to the earl.
Letters that passed between the earl
snd Professor Roberts were then put in
evidence to show the relations that ex-
listed between them. Earl Russell fol-
lowed the professor on the stand. Wit
ness testified that he had never heard
the slightest objection made to the pres
ence OF Professor Roberts in his house.
He (witness) objected to his wife going
to certain lady's house. He based his
objections on the fact the lady was di-
vorced. Countess Russell was very
much put out by his objecting to her
visit to the lady's home, and in quar-,
rel that followed witness said to her:
III you say such things you will soon
be sorry you married me-" The count
ess replied: "Sir, am sorry."
The earl declared that he had never
insisted that the countess dress him. If
she had not requested him to allow her
to dress him, he would never have let
her do 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.
With reference to the charge that
when the countess on one occasion asked
him after row for e25 he threw hersna
sovereign, he said it was not true. He
was about to give her the money she
asked for, when she said 81 don't want
your dirty money.
The earl denied the countesss state
ment that upon one occasion, when he |
had written letter to his solicitor, he
complained about her extravaganza,
and that he treated her IN a brutal man
ler.
Sir Charles then drew from the earl /
lis version of the bedroom incident,
when the countess was found nude and
n faint on the floor, as testified by
Ter maid. The earl said after he and
ais wife had retired, he declared that he
would not go to Lady Salisbury's, owing
% the refusal of the countess to go to
Amberly cottage, the earl's residence.
The countess thereupon got out of bed
md tainted on the floor. When She
anne to she threw a soap dish at him.
md made for him with a poker. She
threatened to throw herself out of the
The earl declared that the statement
made by the countess that he left her
nd went to Professor Roberts bedroom ,
vas absolutely false. There was not
he slightest reason to suggest any inn ,
roper conduct between himself and !
'rofessor Roberts. The earl admitted {
hat he once used the word barren" in
onversation with his wife, but he only q
sed 1T in fun. He denied the cruelty k
cats that had been attributed to him.
The earl stated that he did not think q
ls wlfe's health or nerves suffered DUR y
lg her married life. Her ailments n
ere caused by unaccustomed restraints. {,
At this point Sir Edward Clarke, rep
'senting the countess, asked witness to
We an instance OF unaccustomed re-
raints.
The earl mentioned that one instance q
as his limiting his wife to six cigar
tes per day. Witness declared that he
as not unduly anxious to have son,
e denied that he ever swore at his 10
fe or called her brute or beast, He SC
ss much annoyed shortly after his
arriage, by learning that many of the or
untess's debts were unpaid. He n
,ted that he never shut his wife up at p
sht time, making up his accounts.
le time the countess told him she WAS de
ahmed" sorry she married him. ar or
This closed his statement, and Sir
aries Russell handed the witness o,
or to Sir Edward Clarke, for cross oS 81
animation. Among the first cues. n,
ns put to the earl which caused the ~
dience to prick up their ears, referred I
the earls conduct before his mar uls
ge, and in reply to it the earl ad- -
tied that before he married he had
luced servants; but he said he told
dy Mable Scott. his fancee, all the
and she found that no
SOD to discard him.
he earl said he paid the Williams
], whom he ruined, f500, and had
&c paid her Ell week. The countess
ected to his engaging a man-seryant
ned Moyse, but he persisted in his
ermination to to take him back, saw
Moyse was good servant, and not
nected with the Williams girl scan
r Edward Clarke drew out from the
the admission that he did not finish
college course at Oxford, having
1 "sent down" on complaint of hay.
written an improper letter.
r Edward-To man or woman
,e earl--To man, / suppose.
'r saw the letter nor heard what
in it. left England for time,
went to America.
r Edward being through with wit