The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-02
DIVORCE SUIT IN HIGH LIFE.
THE COUNTESS RUssELL w1sHEs 70
BE RID OF HER HUSBANR

BE RID OF HER HUsBANn
She Accuses the Monte Esv4 81 Brutality
Cruelty, ana More Hexness Ossnees-H
Makes Her Perfsra Menial Service ~,
Drives Her frsm Hin b. HISS Conduct
LONDON Dec. LIN the Divorce Division o
her Majesty's High Court Of Justice. before Mr.
Justice Butt to-day. the suit Of the Countess
Russell for Judicial separation from her hus
band. Earl Russell. grandson OF the first earl
was begun on the ground OF cruelty. Ear
Russell was born III August. 1896. and is
therefore. only a bout 20 years old. On Feb. @
1890 he married Mabel. daughter Of the late
Sir Claude Scott, and soon afterwnrd the wife
left him. alleging that he was cruel to her. II
is alleged that his conduct would have rem.
dered him liable to punishment in q criminal
court.
The Earl denies every allegation made by
his wife, and says that the whole trouble is
due to his mother -in-aw. Sir Charles Russell
appeared for the Earl, and Sir Edward Clarke.
the Solicitor General represented the Count
ess
The petition Of tho Countess says that the
Earl habitually treated her with great harsh
ness and cruelty terrifying her and fnjurfng
her health. He compelled her to remain until
2or 8 o'clock in the morning doing his 40
counts. When she was unable to complete
them he called her q useless. uneducated
threatened her with a revolver. and Inundated
her before her servants
Sir Edward Clarke. for the petitioner. In
opening tho case to-day. said that the parties
to the suit lived together for only four months,
and had separated finally after two attempts
at reconciliation. To show the brutal nature
of the Earl. he told how he used to drug cats
about with strings around their necks. More
than once he amused himself by throwing
THhh The Countess. who was the first witness. tes-
maticalIy grossly insulted her. threatened her
with pistol. and compelled her to do mental
service, sho also accused MIN OF gross I'M
Sir Edward Clarke said that when tho Count:
Se With h sso
Ear hs an to
him reckless drives IN nr X 1rss
e leave nsf Ser room and 20 and stay ste
with man naeS Hoberts who IVA TSs s sleeping
the hsr oarred out o the
coffin. On more than one occasion ne threw
her to thu floor and comdm anv In her not to
'' Str Edward. after denying that his client
Systsria. said that the man Roberts was the
mathematical master q se hss st. Bath
sir Edward declared. and his vito could not
feel otherwise than outraged and distressed
' Wien the Earl dragged cats about with
the cee,ns. the Countess nopstrated AGAINST
such cruelty ne Earl cat r %osd saS
lick You IN into shaSs
When the Countess objected ted t.. t9 R B
Sir Edward said the Earl was much upset by
H. NJ ho CnnnfAQQ n
abused her for thls End called ne
AseEmSrle Hote shs Iaid out de Si05 As;
Sm and IL ss that the should
ss az his a' sa
the Ieyee he also compelled her to attend to
S s Ss9
menial service, End S told him she was sorry she
Th sH EAT At enee rang the bell and told tho
servant who answeEed TO summon Lady Scott
, ,s INT %9 Sa Earl sa Set
yGl ike. ana you cen 60 e the hs. devil
Countess Wa found ons 9Sisht 4 n fH end
the maid who had gone to the room that some
and no had taken It Off -. nv
During her testimony. Countess Russell was
ets IN tss
room Occupied Y him She said she had r.
nss sr Edwa
gave apy reasons for going to h96ertss ROOM PM
SAID at thu Esr Ss more
when Roberts was In the house. Replying TO
tSd her tsaa Rs pistol e
e1t and that no would shoot her If she annoy
fsey sa hassssss1 e ss Tss
asked him to k Is hsF he e refused With an
Ser e Earl Rasss sasas
n court. frequently buried 3D. his fee IL his
alleged treatment q bis Xiis: f. fact: he
1no subject for mirth. Many OF the specta |
t%rs whose minds were not sSniu Ee by the
upon him with disgust.
Continuing her eyidepes t 9EgainsSt her hms,
,,nwell the Earl summoned her to his study |
and called her u barren brute and threw her to |
The witness was cross examined by Sir
Charles Hqsse He opened by asking the
THE witness replied with decision, yes"
This answer created sensation In the court |
The witness then added that she had never
made direct t, charge aagainst either the Earl
was the best man at her wedding. assuring
erts. adding that she was IN the handle Of
clever men and would bring no charges against
the Earl unless sho was fully able to prove |
them. Il
sir Charles asked tho Countess II the state OF |
her health had not been given as the reason
for breaking OF an engagement to marry she
Ind entered into before her betrothal to Earl
Russell. The witness admitted former en-
ghgemont and that it was broken OF owing to
the condition OF her health.
was not attended by two doctors in 1858 for
certain complaint The Countess replied that
tho doctors mentioned had given her medi-
cines from time to time.