New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-28
De FOREST SUIT COLLAPSES
Lord Derby Had No Recollection
Of Scandalous Statements.


London March 21-The suit brought by
the wealthy young Baron Arnold de For
est against MS mother-in-law. Lady Mary
Gerard. ana the latters brother. Henry
Miner for SANDER was tried to-day, and
collapsed suddenly when Lord Derby. TO
whom the ISLANDERS were alleged to have
been conAded, took the stand and swore
that he had no recollection Of them Sir
Edward Clarke counsel for the plaintiff.
thereupon announced that lie was unable
10 proceed. in view OF the lack Of evidence.
and Judgment for the defendants was re-
turned.
The case was heard by Justice Darling
IN the King Bench Division. and as all OF
the characters are well known the court
room was crowded almost 10 sufocation BIZ
fashionable throng As many more vain
iy besieged the closed doors. clamoring for
admission Among those fortunate enough
70 get inside We're many women, conspicu-
ous in stylish costumes. Seldom has a
more notable array Of counsel been engaged
in civil action. and a bitterly contested
issue was expected The list ~ witnesses.
most OF whom are prominent in The social
world, was 50 long that these would hav.
been sufficient 20 Ill the courtroom had all
OF them been present. Many Of these. how
ever. failed 10 appear.
Baron de Forest. whose marriage to the
widow of Menier, the chocolate manu-
facturer OF France. vas annulled subse-
q1ently entered English society and mar
lied Miss Gerard, who IS very wealthy,
having inherited most OF the forum. 90
Baron IIi-sch. The Wife, who il described
a. beautiful and accomplished. later van
shed from her home and according TO the
plaintiff. ~ tho company Of Lieutenant Il
o.. : Ashton. or the d Life Guards and
a friend Of the family.
The plaintiff alleged that the conduct %
his wife was approved b. Lady Gerard and
Mr Milner in utterances rejecting upon
him. IL charged that they had accused
him of having beaten HIS wife. Kicked her
downstairs and generally behaved with
such outrageous brutality as made it i'm
possible for her n longer I've with him
Mr. Miner. who married the Duchess Of
Nontroso. denied having uttered the al
legged ISLANDERS. and set ID the alternate
claim that 70 tho ISLANDERS were spoken they
were true in substance and spoken on \
privileged occasion in answer 70 conf
dental inquiry Denial was also made tina,
the PLAINTIFF reputation had been dam
aged.
Sir Edward Clarke opened The proceed
'ngs by describing the married life Of the
Dc Forests. which. he said was happy until
orc night IN May. faNe whom. after ball.
tho baroness refused 10 60 homo with her
husband Instead she went away With the
Young guardsman Ashton. and on he next
DAY confessed 10 her husband. IN the pres
ence Of her mother and her uncle, Mr.. NIL
ner. that she had been AZ fault. The mat
ter was patched up and the baroness rs
turned 70 De Forest.
Last year De Forest sought election 70
/ Parliament. He is a Liberal. and hts wifa's
/ relatives are Tories HIS speeches IN the
| campaign incensed his folks-in-law. and the
alleged ISLANDERS were said 10 have fol-
( lowed soon sfterward the baroness re-
sumed coupsnionshi7 with Ashton. and on
January Is De Forest found HIS wife
wedding ring in an envelope, together with
the announcement that she had gone away
With the lieutenant. thus completing the
rur ture between the families
/ In the course Of his statement Sir Edward
| Clarke divulged that Il was the Baroness
de Forest with whom Ashton eloped 70
Palma. in February. 1910. instead OF the
daughter OF high court functionary. "a
was reported at the time. Subsequently
De Forest again forgave his wife
Sir Edward concluded by saving that h.
would call among witnesses for the prose-
cution Home Secretary Churchill. Lord
Castefeagh and Lord Derby The latter
was alleged 10 have heard the ISLANDERS.
but when he was called to the witness
stand said that he had no recollection Of
having heard the remarks set forth by the
plaintiff.
At this Sir Edward said that he would
go no further. as h. was unable to develop
tho expected evidence. The case against
Mr. Miner having failed. that against
Lady Gerard was also dropped and the
court ruled for the defendants