The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-24

LONDON, Fob. 93.-The case Of Mira.
John Biddulph Martin, formerly Vic
toFia Woodruff, against tho trustees OF
tho British Museum, was heard in the
high court OF justice, queens bench
division, before Baron Pollock to-day.
Mira. Martin some timo ago obtained
m order from tho courts directing tho
trustees Of tho British Museum TO dl-
vuIgo tho names OF the donors to the
museum Of two books relating TO the
Boccher-Tilton trial. Mrs, Martin, in
her petition, declared that the first Of
these books imputed that she, as Mrs.
Victoria " oodhull, had published libel
Gus and obscene literature.
1he second book, according to Mrs.
Martins complaint, Purported TO con-
iNih statements made the BeeCher-
iIlton litigation which sue claims re-
llectcd upon her.
The application was granted, but the
trustees appealed aud on January %
last IN the high court Of Justice tho ap-
peal was heard. Tho trustees claimed
ihat the books wero withdrawn so soon
as their attention was called TO Mrs.
MARTINS complaint. This appeal, how
ever, was dismissed.
In court to-day Sir Richard Webster
represented tho plAinlih. Sir Richard
sad that tho books contained imaGin-
nry INTERVIEWS with Victoria Woodruff,
IN which she was quoted as stating that
AIR, I!lton mad been her lover, that she
had lived with him for three months
anu that he called her tho Queen of
PROSTITUTES" Victoria Woodruff, Sir
Richard also claimed, was charged in
these interviews with blackmailing the
Kew. Henry Ward Bcecher, and consul
asserted that the interviews mado q
similar charge against Victoria Wood
hull's sister.
Sir Richard Webster then read ex-
tracts from the works OF Victoria Wood
huIl advocating purity between tho
sexes. Unluckily, counsel continued,
the man whom Victoria Woodruff left
in control OF hcr newspaper in New
York inserted in it, unknown to her,
some disgraceful articles.
Sir Richard Webster, during the
Gourse OF his argument, also said that
Victoria Woodruff, until she met MIR.
M"rtln, lived u life OF struggle and suf-
fering.
Mrs. Martin then took tho stand and
gave tho story OF her life. During the
course OF her statements Mrs. Martin
said that the interview published in
Chicago paper in 1872, and copied into
the book donated TO tho British Museum,
and which was ono OF those which she
complained against, had never occurred.
Inc staten ents made in this interview,
saiu Mrs. Martin, were false.
When asked whether she had ever
been guilty OF immortality. Mrs. Martin
said that from 1870 to 1887 sho was daily
before the American public and that no
charge had ever been made against her
character.
Sir Charles Russell, the attorney gen.
eral, who appeared for the British
Atusoum, severely cross-examined Mrs.
Martin in regard to her life as clairvoy-
ant, stock broker and actress in San
francisco.
Replying tothe questions put to her,
Mrs. Martin said that the prosecution
against her in the United States on the
charge OF sending obscene matter
through tho mails had resulted in her
acquittal, the government being forced
to abandon the prosecutions as result
oil nnblic opinion.
Whom questioned in regard to the
Key. Henry ward Beecher, .,lrs. Martin
said that ii the Beechcr-Tilton case was
to be tried again in London she must
have time to prepare her case.
Alter considerable testimony had
been taken the case waa adjourned.