The morning call., 1891-12-02
A CRUEL EARL.
Sensational Developments in the Russell
Divorce Case.

Tor JudiciI! 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 the public talk for months past
The parties 10 the suit are well known in
society, and the allegations and counter
allegations have afforded topics for CONVEX
sation 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 large number of persons
| who listened with close attention TO the
! proceedings. The Countess was present ac-
cOmpanied bv her mother and sister. She
aud her relatives occupied seats ia a back
part OF the courtroom, seemingly with a
desire to escape from the observation of th e
crowd. Sir Charles Russell appeared for
the Earl, and Sir Edward Clarke, Solicitor
General represented the Countess.
THE COUNTESS COMPLAINT.
The petition of the Countess states that
| from the time she married. in February,
| 1890 until she left him. Earl Russell habilu-
ally treated her with harshness and cruelty,
terrifying her and lnjuring her health. The
Earl compelled her to remain until or
o'clock in the morning going over his ac-
counts, He also threatened her with a re-
volver. Not content with abusing and in
| sulting her in the privacy of their apart
| u!ent>, lie acted toward her in such way
that she was Inundated before her servants
THE EARL's BRUTALITY.
Sir Edward Clarke, for petitioner, in
! opening the case to-day said the parties to
| the suit lived together for only four months,
owing 10 the conduct Of the Earl. After
! ward the Countess was induced to return to
! her husband and they resumed their former
marital relations This continued but
| short time, however, when the Countess
| found the tariS actions intoerable. and
! they again separated. After this last sep
9r"tlon the Earl wrote ntfectionalely TO the
/ Countess and imrlOred her to return 10 him.
lie Countess was persuaded against her
! better judgment TO return to her husband,
! out MS atectlUnate treatment was of short
| duration. He again used personal violence
/ against her ana made her life miserable.
! Ile Countess lost al! hope of living happily
| with her husband and she again left him.
| Pror to the separation the matter Of the
/ Countess support was talked over, and the
/ Earl agreed 10 allow her eighty pounds
| month for her expenses. This agreement
| the Earl violated. He paid the first monthly
| allowance. but after that the Countess re-
| ceived nothing from him, except checks for
| the amount promised, which checks when
presented at the bank were returned dis
| hOnored.
THE COUNTESS WAS RICH.
Sir Edward Clarke stated that when the
Countess married she Lad marriage por-
ton Of $40, 600. This money, however. ha6
D
Countess was suffering from an attack of
influenza the Earl, Sir Edward declared.
compe led the Countess to accompany him
on reckless drives in inclement weather
much 10 her injury. He made the Countess
60 TO the servants closets to see if they
were provided with proper wardrubes. AS
an evidence OF the estimation in which the
Earl held hIs wife, Sir Edward stated he
often said he would like to see her carried
out OF tie house in a coffin.
ACTED AS BooR-KEEFER.
Referring to the EarPs accounts, Sir Ed
ward said he would compel the Countess to
arise after she had retired and 90 down
stairs to fix them up. He would then abuse
her IN the most violent terms. On more than
one occasion he threw her violently to the
floor and commanded her not to move uutil
he returned and gave her permission.
he denied that bis client was at present or
ever had been afflicted with Mysteries. To
show the brutal nature of the Earl Sir Ed
ward cited instances of how he used to 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. The Countess re-
monstrated with the Earl against this
cruelty, whereupon the latter said, u will
lick you into shape if you don't MUD"
a DISGRACE TO THE NOBILITY.
Early in May the Earl and the Counties.
proposed to attend a 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
services, and told him she was sorry she
ever married him. The Earl at once rang
the bell and tod the servant who answered
to summon Lady Scott, the Countess
mother. When Lady Scott entered the
room the Earl said: Here is your sacred
daughter; tIke her away as soon as you
Ike" 1t was on her return at her hus-
bands request, after their temporary sep
aratiOn, tha: the Countess was found one
night nude and in fainting condition 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 nigut-dress and he had
taken it off.
THE FAIR COUNTESS TEsTIFIEs.
When Sir Edward had concluded his ad-
dress, he called the first witness. This was
Countess Russell. She arose from her seat
In the rear OF the room and made her way
to the witness-b0x. The Countess was at
tired in on elegant blue velvet dress She
wore an expensive boa about her neck and
a large hat, which set off her beauty to
great advantage, and she displayed much
mOdesty. When she had taken her place in
the witness-box Sir Edward proceeded to
question ner, and she was greatly embar-
rassed by some of the questions. To most
OF his Inquiries she responded in a meek
and almost inaudible voice. Lady Scott, the
petitioners mother, sought by her presence
to add to her daughters courage in the try
Ing position in which she was placed. She
occupied the time while her daughter was
giving her testimony by continual shifting
at vinaigrette. The Countess sister sat
beside her mother.
THE wAsHED-oUT" EARL.
In appearance the Earl is a great contrast
to the handsome and stylish young wife. lie
is a weak-eyed, youngish looking man, has
hair OF a red tinge, and Is what is known in
slang parlance as washed out" His ap-
pearance is not improved by the spectacles
he wears. During the recital OF the incidents
OF her married life. Earl Russell, who was
sitting in court, frequently buried his face
in his hands TO hide his laughter. His ac-
lions showed that he felt no compunction
Tor his treatment of his wife. He seemed to
think the whole affair fine subject for
mlrth. Many of the spectators, whose
minds were not confused by the high social
standing OF the Earl, looked upon him with
disgust. Continuing her evidence the
Countess testified that when she was i'll the
obnoxious names and threw her 10 the floor
REFUSED TO BE CAREssED.
Upon the conclusion OF the direct exami-
nation, the fair witness was cruss-examined
at great length by Sir Charles RUSSELL aud
in conclusion the Countess said the Earl
often showed her away when she tried to kiss
him, and had struck her when she was try
Ing to make up the quarrels with him. She
said she was certain she never boxed his
ears.
The court adjourned before the cross -ex-
animation was finished
In Critical Condition.
(nnt