Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-28
Sudden Collapse Of Baron
De Forest Case.
Lack Of Evidence Oisappoints
1hrOng Of london's Smart Set.
Principal Witness Cannot Remem-
ber- Defendants Receive Decision.


by the wealthy young Baron Arnold
De Forest against his mother-in-law,
Lady Mary Gerard, and the latter :
brother. Henry Miner, for SANDER
vas tried today and cola psed sudden
~ when Lord Derby, to whom the
ISLANDERS We're alleged to have been
confided, took the stand and swore
that he had no recollection of the same.
Sir Edward Clarke, counsel for the
plaintiff, thereupon announced that he
was unable to proceed in view of the
lack of evidence. and judgment for
the defendants was returned.
The case was heard by Justice OAR
ling in the Kings Bench division, and
as all of the characters are we'll known
the court room was crowded by fash
ionable throng. AS many more vain
~ beSeiged the closed doors clamOr-
ing for admission. Seldom has more
notable array of counsel been engaged
in civil action, and a bitterly contest
ed issue was expected. The list of wit
nesses, most of whom are prominent in
the social world, was SO long that
these would have been sufficient to
fill the court room had all of them been
| EiVstilt AndHy vi THESE, however,
ed to appear.
Baron De Forest, whose marriage to
the widow of Menier, the chocolate
manufacturer of France, was annulled
subsequently entered English society
and married Miss Gerard who is very
wealthy, having inherited most of the
fortune of the late Baron HirSch. The
wife, who is described as beautiful and
accomplished, later vanished from her
home, and according to the plaintiff
in the company of Lieut.. II. c. Ashton
90 the 90 Life Guards.
The plaintif alleged that the con-
duct Of his wife was approved by Lady
Gerard and Miner in utterances re-
fecti1g upon him. He charged that
Trey had accused him of having beat
en- his Wife kicked her down stairs and
gem rally behaved with such brutality
as made it impossible for her longer
to live with him.
Miner. who married the Duchess of
Montrose. denies having uttered the
alleged ISLANDERS and set up tie alter
nate claim that il the ISLANDERS were
spoken, they were true IN substance
and spoken on q privileged occasion IN
answer to a confidential inquiry De-
NAL was also made that the plaintiffs
reputation had been damaged.
Sir Edward Clarke opened the pro-
ceedings by describing the married
life of the De Forests, which he said.
was happy until one night in NAV!
1909. when after a ball, the Baroness
refused to go home with her husband
Instead she went away with the young
guardsman, Ashton. and on the next
day confessed to her husband i'm the
presence of her mother and uncle, Mil
ner, that she had been at fault. The
matter was patched up and the bar
oneSs returned to De Forest
Last year De Forest sought election
to Parliament. He is a Liberal and his
wires relatives are Tories His
speeches in the campaign incensed mis-
folks-in-law and the alleged ISLANDERS
We're said to have followed. Soon aft
erwards the baroness resumed COM
panionship with Ashton and De For
est found his wife's wedding ring in an
envelope together with the announce
ment that She had gone away with
the lieutenant, thus completing the
rupture between the two families.
III lIe course OF MS statement Sir
Edward divulged that it was the Bar
on De Forest, with whom Ashton elop-
ed to Palma in February, 1910, instead
of the daughter of high court func-
tionary as was reported at the time.
Subsequently De Forest again forgave
his wife.
Sir Edward concluded by saving that
he would call among witnesses for the
prosecution, Home Secretary Church.
ill. Lord Castlereagh and Lord Derby.
The latter was alleged to have heard
the ISLANDERS but when ne was called to
the witness stand. said that he had
no recollection of having heard the re-
marks set forth by the plaintiff At
this Sir Edward said that lie would go
no further as he was unable to devel-
OPP the expected evidence. The case
against Miner having failed, that
against Lady Gerard was also dropped
and the court ruled for the defend
ants.
Inloa in, ha mi