Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-24
GREAT SMELLS IN COURT.
Tutor MOrland Of Oxford Arraigned for
Matchmaking Noblemen.

Tutor MOrland of Oxford Arraigned for
Blackmailing Noblemen.
Maitland Francis Norland, the law tutor of
Oxford. England, who was arrested on Feb
ruary Is owing to revelations made by Mr..
Henry Labouchere in Truth, charged with
matchmaking q number of wealthy and titled
undergraduates of Oxford University, was
brought up On remand yesterday morning at
the Bow street police court in London. The
court room was crowded with young lords and
other heavy swells.
Edwin Francis Stanhope, tenth earl Of Ches-
terrified. who is thirty-seven years of age and a
great swell, was among the first witnesses
called. He said that he had received letter
identical to the one received by Lord Hoth-
field.
The letter referred to was worded as follows:
My Lord: 1 am very young widow; my husband
died in India fortnight after the marriage My IN
but will bear the OF another debts hence
my writing to your iordshp l became security Tor
and gracsiul with perfect figure and in feature am
My house larre. we'll appointed in the best part
OF Oxford. and your ordshp could come TO
ESQ. part and part at another time hut above
all perfect secrecy. as am highly connected have
forina. and not my current Italian hand. very
obedient servant. MRS MAITLAND"
The receipt Of the above letter was. according
to circumstances, followed by others Contain
ing threats of exposure, Law suits &c., unless
money was forthcoming. and. in some cases.
the prisoner actually brought suit against some
of the Young lordhngs.
Lord Ormathwaite was the next witness
called. His evidence was similar to that of
Lord Chesterfield.
Counsel representing Lord Lindsay. the Earl
pf Eern and no. al g Al. :. 4.
testified to the fact that their clients had re-
ceived similar letters.
Counsel also produced in evidence the papers
in action supposed 80 have been brought by a
certain Ruth Morland" against Earl Russell the
center of interest in the recent Russell against
Russell divorce suit, in which he defeated his
wife.
The suit of Ruth Morland" against Earl
Russell was for cl00. hall of which sum, il was
claimed, had been loaned by the plaintiff to
the defendant The remainder of the sum- il
appears, Ruth Morland" claimed as due her
for the delivery OF certain letters
The earl received the threatening letters on
the eve of his marriage, in which the writer
threatened to confess to Earl Russells bride
the fact that he had committed adultery with
the writer. and also to publish certain letters
unless the fl0o was paid.
Mr.. Russell admitted that Earl Russell had
written certain letters to Morland, and, he
added, these letters were in possession of the
police.
The Rev. DIR. Biggs, junior proctor of Oxford
University, was the next witness called. He
said that the attention of the university au-
| thorities had been called to the matter by an
article which appeared in Truth. He called
upon Mr.. Morland to question him. Morland,
he continued, told him that Mrs Maitland
was q handsome and wealthy nihilist who was
anxious to obtain the sympathy and influence
of the most exalted people in England, and
who carried her devotion to the cause of nihil-
IL a
would, no doubt, in Morlands opinion, offer
her lovely person to nobleman who would
assist her to attain the great ends which she
had in view.
The next piece of evidence submitted was
OF q somewhat different though almost of a
startling nature. 1t was to the effect that the
prisoner had, in 1874, been sentenced to a
years imprisonment with hard labor for
perjury.
The Rev. R. Holden Of Oxford corroborated
DR.. Biggs. He said in addition that as a result
OF the Junior proctors inquiries he. DIR. Hol-
den, had issued an order forbidding the under
graduates from visiting the prisoners res
idence.
Mr.. Thomas Arwall. the postmaster Of OK
ford, was the next witness examined. He said
that owing to representations made to him by
the university authorities, he had declined to
deliver any letters addressed to Mrs. Matt
land"
Lord Hothneld was re-examined and in ans
wef to questions put to him said he had never
seen the prisoner except in the dock, and that
he had undertaken his prosecution in the inter-
ests OF the public. Applause from the lord
lings in court which was gently suppressed by
the magistrate, who remarked addressing Lord
| Hothfeld, Your lordship has done the public
q service. There ought to be q fresh charge
against the prisoner Of demanding money BY
| menaces. The risoner will be remanded for .
| week"
Morland was then removed In custody,
frowning savagely at Lord Hothfield a. he
passed from the prisoners dock to the passage
way leading to the Black Maria