Singular Libel Suit.

Hastings Standard, Issue 173, 17 November 1896, Page 4

Singular Libel Suit.

eA M AJOR'S 1. 11ITERS FROM HIS DIVORCED WIFE. At I«.nv-street. before Mr Lusliington, Mrs Mary Grace Walter, of Pitcairn Tt-rmcc. Victoria Ron'l, Margate, appeared to an adjourned summons c-h:trffinpr her with wilfully ami maliciouslv publishing a defamatory libel on Major Fred. Edward \\ alter. Before the case was opene<l Mr Van Troinp. who defended, said that Mrs Walter was willing to express her sorrow for what had occurred, and to promise that it should not occur again. Mr Elliott said that the last thing in the world that his client would desire would bo to act in any way vindictively towards this lady, but an apology, to be acceptable, must be accompanied by an assurance that tiie molestation should cease. Mr Lushington : I am bound to say that since the last adjournment a letter was written to Sir John Bridge, which contains just- as bad a libel as these. The defendant : It is quite true. I wrote that postcard, and 1 am sorry for it. Mr Lushington : Are you ready to apologise for writing these letters. Defendant: That depends. They threatened to put me in a lunatic asylum, and on my silver wedding day, too. Mr Lushington : Will you promise not to write such letters again to anybody ? Defendant : Does that include my eldest son ? Mr Certainly. Defendant ; They have injured me so long—for twelve years. 1 can't do it. Mr Lushington : Then the case must proceed. Mr Elliott opened the case by saying that the defendant was married to Major Walter in India on August 1, IS7I. For two years their marriage was exceedingly happy. Unfortunately the defendant, on three occasions after the birth of her child, was seized with severe attacks of illness, which so alCeted her mind that on each occasion she had to be eoniined in a lunatic asylum, being released after a time as cured. After this the defendent instituted proceedings for a judicial separation from her husband, on the ground of his cruelty to her in thus cotilining her. Tin se proceedings were not brought to a conclusion, but dicing the absence of the wife from her hu.-band an order was made by Mr Justice ('bitty giving the husband the custody of the child. Subsequently Mrs Walter gave birth to an illegitimate child, ami divorce proceedings were taken by Major Walter. The case was heard before Mr Justice Butt, who granted a dissolution of marriage oil the grounds of his wife's adultery. Major Walter subsequently married again. Major Walter had been subjected to continual annoyance by the defendant, and on August 1, the anniversary, as it happened, of her nlver wedding, the defendant wrote a number of letters and post cards alluding to Major Walter and his present wife in the most scandalous terms. These letters were sent to Mr Soames, Major Walter's solicitor, to Major Walter himself. to his oldest son, and to his brother, Mr Arthur Walter. A summons was applied for upon those letters, and since that summons was issued the defendant had written a number of other letters, culminating in one written on August 17, all repeating the-e scandalous libels on Major Walter and hi- wife. The allegations were without the slightest possible foundation. Major Walter had made the defendant an allowance ever since the .separation, and on each occasion when the matter wa* before the courts the judges had spoken in the very highest terms of his conduct towards her. During the ■ whole of counsel's speech the defendant kept up a running commentary, addressed to her solieitor, the magistrate, and the officials of the court, despite all the attempts which were made to silence her. Evidence was given, and the defendant. when asked if she had anything to say, said that in August she received what she considered a most cruel and insulting letter from her father, throwing up the past at her head. She naturally resented it, it upset her so. She received another far worse a week after. After a few days her father wrote and apologised for the first letter, saying that he had not intended her to take it so much to heart. She was upset at the time, and she did not know it was actionable, or she would not have written as she did. Of course she was sorry for it now. She went on to accuse Major Walter of having threatened her with a stick some weeks ago, and broke out into abuse of his present wife, who she said, took her golden haired baby from her when it was one year old. Major Walter, she said, swore he would make her a mad woman years ago. and it was she. not he, who had suffered all these years. M l ' Lushington committed defendant for trial, offering to accept one sure.y in £IOO or two in fifty. Bail was not forthcoming at the cloJng of the court.