The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-12
YOUNG MARQUIS
EASILY SHARED
Lunacy Case in London, in
Which Great Interest Was
Taken, Concluded.
JURY'S CURIOUS VERDICT
TRIAL DEVELOPED COMIC OPERA
FEATURES.
JURY'S CURIOUS VERDICT

London, Aug. n.-What in legal his
tory will be consider ed a celebrated
case was concluded today when jury
in the historic old hall of Lincoln
Inn, inquiring. at the instance of the
Official solicitor, into the mental con-
dition of the Marquis Townshend, re-
turned the curious verdict that his
Iordshop is capable OF taking care OF
himself being dangerous neither to
himself nor others. but that he is OF
unsound mind so far as managing his
anairS are concerned.
The case, which has already great
public interest. developed some sensa-
tional as well as unpleasant testimony
IL was marked today by an eXtraordi-
nary incident when the jury, against
the wish OF the judge. insisted on hear
ing Townshend's testimony in secret
even refusing tbe request of the mar
cnloness Cor permission to be present
Then, before the lawyers closing ad-
. dress had been concluded. the members
of the jury announced that they had
made up their minds, and after the
judges charge were out only ten min
utes.
Looked for a Rich Wife.
1t was alleged that the marquis was
unduly influenced by one Robbins,
whom he had known for fourteen
years, and the marchioness testified
that Robbins influence over the mar
quis had brought about a separation
between herself and husband soon after
their marriage.
IL developed also that the young mar
qus, finding his estate heavily mort
gagged. was persuaded to seek d
wealthy alliance, and one witness testi-
fled that his engagement To a rich
American heiress Ia been nearly con-
cluded when he became affianced to
Miss Sutherst, whose father, a bar
rister, was an undischarg9d bankrupt,
but whom the marquis and his adj
Visers thought was wealthy.
Young Lord Fooled.
A Somerset house clerk named Dunno
acted as the marriage broker, Towns
bend signing a contract to pay him 10
per cent out of whatever moreys were
received rom the SutheFst family.
The marquis settled $40, 800 on his
wife. though his direct income was only
$4,000. and also signed a deed giving
$3.50 TO Robbins. After the marriage
took place the marchioness and her
father agreed TO advance or TO procure
the advance TO the marquis OF $135 900
with the marquis lie interest in the
ToWnshend family estates as security.
and further agreed to release the mar
quis without charge if there was male
issue from the union within a year.
Comic Opera Features.
Judge Bueknill severely condemned
what ne termed the receptions of the
Suthersts, especially as Mr. Sutherst
was a barrister. The case was notable
for flashes of wit and the humorous in
cidents. in which the marchiOness. who
is very pretty woman. was promi-
nent. In fact, the judge said if it were
not so serious the matter might be
compared to a comic opera, recalling
the fact that the marquis was once
detained by order of the lunacy COM
missioners, and saying that when he
wanted TO remain away from his wife,
as she had testified, she locked him in a
room. and that now. when all he
wanted to do was to stay at home with
mis- wife, il was alleged that he was a
lunatic.
The marquis and the marchioness
were mos. affectionate during the trial.
Her testimony strongly favored his
sOundness Of mind but was bitterly
against the influence Of Robbins over
him.