The sun., 1893-03-26
LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.
A REMARKABLE ADDITION TO THE
BRITi5u CODE OF MORALS.

Scandal that Sir william Penrce Hoped to
Escspe-A Noble I.ora'r Shame Exposed
In q Police Coupt-'Tbe Duke OF Bodford's
Death Attributcd 10 GIuttony - Mnuy
Properly Interests tn ireland Opposing
Homo Ruic-Ths Crinoiine Crisis In Eng
land safely Paased-Fifty Denutifni wo.
men Going 10 Chicago as Europe's Ethno-
ieeie,.i Exhibit - Russin m Our Naval
Review - The nuiiet-proor Uniiorr-.
LONDON March 25.-Thc rather extraordi-
nary addition to the British code Of morals.
which declares that q man may confess con-
duct which loads to granting n divorce with
out suffering ANY imputation against his
honor. has received u quasi official accept
ancs this week. The divorce court scandal
growing out OF the conc cealment o. the identity
OF Sir William Pcarcc. NJ. r.. us core respondent
in the case of Trissocke against Bristocke. las
developed features which have aroused n good
deal Of astcnishmont even among the ca!!ous-
minded Dritons. When the fact leaked out
that IL divorce had boon granted to the injured
husband with cost against Pearce. as CORE
spondsnt. many OF the latter's constituents
demanded his resignation. The outraged
husband then came t the defence OF his wiic's
paramour with declaration freeing him from
all blame. on tho ground that when he lau
unlawful relations with Mrs. B-stocke he did
not know sho WAS n married woman. TINS
view OF tho case has been accepted. not cniy
by Sir Williams constituents. but by the
leaders o. the Conservative PARTY and In
negative wnv hv Parliament itself.
1t Is authoritatvely announced this week
tha. Sir William Will not resign. there being
nothing in tho conduct which he confesses
which renders him aunt 20 represent the peo-
plo in tho national legislature. His fellow
members of the House OF Commons apparent
iy coincide in this view. for no pressure has
Lcen brought TO bear within the House. US far
as 10 known. to induce him 20 rotire. IT ny
poars. therefore. to be established. AS clearly
as such u matter cnn bo determined by the
highest public sentiment. that 1t is no stain
upon nn Enc!ishmans character to have i'm
n. oral rotations with II woman. provided no is
eingle and sGpposcs her TO be unmarried.
Most people have SO understood the English
moral code for long time. but it is instruc-
tive. 10 say the least. to have the matter biuntly
Aid put!lcl7 put on record as has now been
done.
Tho scandal which has surprised the Eng
li,h p.;blc is not tho conduct OF Sir William
Pearco or his npoloEists. but tho manner in
which the English court machinery can bo
used to shield persons Of quality. II Sir Will
a. h,,. aas,ro5 20 ,o.n !, co., tho
hi,nS,nr ,,nht ~ tb. dirorcs .omrt ;noniriou
and newspaper columns. The exceeding
Kindness OF his accuser. his counsel. and the
court officers almost accomplished this object.
Tho Westminster Gazette got wind OF the little
arrangement and exposed 1t. The newspapers
h.va haon mnri,c sucb +, ,uss evar s;nca that
Sir Francis Jeune. President OF the Divorce
srni.insd TIT. VOC .+tomntoa ysaterdav
~ .no AZ n,.,,,;o, ho. 800 thIn,s uo,s.
m. ,.vvor for T,r;stooke the comn,aining
hu.hsnd m aaa a etatama ant In court nd dmi,tinc
.h.t 10 ma ,ntant;onolIv conca.lad tbo
sSon.,tr =, the co.r.snonsont hsoauaa hs did
not thinr Sir william deserved the unnlao..
.nt,.s. n, nuhlicitv He had not howevar
tnt.ndad IN ieava tho Court IN tha dart for hs
.unnossd the Judoa was marty 10 the conceal.
mani. Justica Jeune acc snted this erplan alton
a. ouite suff1cient. except that he added that
he vas reaIly In ipnorance of the co.resnond
.nt,s identitv and that he would refer the mat.
ter TO the Queens Proctor. who would INQUIRE
vbether there was anv collusion between the
parties to the divorce. Now all the newspapers
are EXPRESSING amazcment that the President
Of the Divorce Court should allow such an in
sult q the Iawvar,s suoosstion Of iudicial con.
njvance at copcealm emf Ia pass unrebuked.
Itis also demandod that the Law Associa.
tion shall disciplins the counsel for unprofes
sional conduct. No English newspnper. of
ccurs. Questions Justice lam e's assertion that
bo vas really Ignorant of Sir Williams identify
as co-respondent. Justice Jeune. by the way,
has beon intimately associated with Sir VIII
liam Pearce, even occupying the same law Of
fces with him for several years.
The modern impeachm cnt of Lord Hastings,
not for treason. but for one Of the lowest OF
police court offences, is the latest case of
underline breath scandal--for scandal In q
variety of forms has quito m ono opolized public
attention this wock. The Lord Hastings of to-
day, though still young. has reachsd a period Of
prem ature physical decny. Tho London news
papers to-day do not hesitate to print the dis
SustinE details OF his conduct with a
little serving maid whose acquaintance
he made in Regent Park while she
was In charge OF the child Of her employer.
Tho evidence against the noble peer was SO
complete that tho m magistrate remarked there
was no doubt Of his guilt. Much Indignation
In EXPRESSED. therefore. that the liccntious