The New York Herald Newspaper, December 3, 1853, Page 2

"THE MORGAN TRIAL. The Assault on Mr. Isaac Hone by Messrs. Wm. B. and Matthew Morgan, Jun., at Newport. SENTENCE OF THE MORGANS, de., de, de Reported for the New York Herald. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PL‘ N- TATIONB, COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, COUNTY OF NEWPORT, NOVEMBER TBKM, 1853, THIRD DAY OF TERM Wm. R. Staples, a Judge of she Supreme Court, presiding. Nov. 30.—The State vs. William R. Morgan and Matshew Morgan, Jr. The Court opeved at nine o’clock A. M The Attorney General, Walt-r S. Burgess, Esq., then moved for the arraignment of William R. Morgan and Matthew Morgan, Jr., bis brother, upon the indictment found by the Grand Jury on the facts presented im rela- tion to their assault upon the person of Isaac 3. Hone, Esq., committed in the city of Newgort, during the month Of September last. Through the kindness of the officers of the Court, your reporter was furnished with a desk and every facility for the performance of his highly reaponmble duties. We take this opportunity of returning oar thanks to those gentlemen, as well as to his Honor Judge Staples, and to the counsel on both sides, for the uniform couxtesy which we have experienced at their hands. ~ Mr. Hone and the Morgans were seated with their re spective counsel around a large tavle which occupied the centre of the court room. Mr Hone had retained the services of Messrs. Perry, Sheffield and Potter, while the Morgans were so fortuaats as to have secured the valuable legul services of Mosars. B. Y, Cranston and Son, as also those of Abraham Payne, Esq., and Mr. Samuel Ames, of Frovidence, # gantleman whose professional attainments are of the highest order. Mr. Hone appeared calm and cool, and throushout the trial preserved s dignity of deweanor which elicited the respect of all who heard his straight forward and unim- passioned testimony. The Morgans are both yeuny men, the elder bsing 23 sad the younger 20 years of age. They are adout the medium height and strongly built, though perhaps not ro athletic an has been represented. They were plainly dressed, and behaved with perfect propriety during their trial; the younger, as might naturally be expected, show ing the greeter interest of the two, and appareatly fesl- ing most sensibly the very peculiar position in which they had been placed. Upon being called upon to plead to the inditement they severally pleaded guilty to the charge. Wheret pon the Attormey General moved for sentence to be pronounced. i Upon the usua) question beis g put, as to why the sen: tence of the Court should not no v be pronoune.d against them, the prisoners snawered by their counsel that they desired to set forth certain matiers and causes of provo- cation which might tend to mtigate its severity The Attorney General remarked —This case was one of | assault and battery. The plaintiff, Mr Isaac Hone, was eccosted near the Bellevue House, where he had beaa | sojours ing, by the younger of the defendants, Matthew Morgan, Jr, as he was about step zing into his carriage with his wife, preparatory to leaving Newport. Mr. Eoae was at the moment encumbered with a heavy overcoat upon one arm, while he held his umbrella in the other. Mr. Morgan stated that scme person wished to speak with him. Upon advancing t> meet this person, William R, ‘Morgan csme upon him saying, ‘You called me a mons ter, and lam come to pay you for it; ard at the same time drew from his breast a cowhide, with which be in. flicted some fifteen or twenty cuts upon the hoad and shoulders of Mr. Hone, whereby his fice was so severely wounded as to draw blood; and havizg done so effected his escape. Nor did he cesist from this savage method of violence until Robert C. Winthrop, who was present at the attack, sprang upon kim and wrested the weapon from his hands, at the samo time taking him by the throat. There was nothiog to provoke this cn the part of Mr. Hone. In addition to tne cowhide the fists of the assailant were freely used, until Mr. Hi ne was badly burt and bruised The only provocation alleged by the defend ant was that he had called him a ‘‘monster’’ several days before. I rejoice to say that this unmanly at ack is without parallel in our community. I have known of no similar instance in the wacle coure of my expe rience at the ba is a case which calls ter such prompt and strenuous artion as sali deter men from a like course, and serve ai | an exan plo for all time to coms—tur a punishment which +ball vindicate the dignity of the oatraged law, end prove to the public at large taat the tribuna s of our State will mete out due pu: ishment for any tafriagement of Ler ordinances. We therefore ask for such a senteace aa the ex: en! of this case requires. Abrabam Payxe, Fsq. of Prov.dence, one of the coan- se) fer the accused, then opeced their case, by remarking, ‘that there appeared to be enough to justify the assertion which hid been made by the Attorney (General that tuir care wse am unusual ene. But, fom the mauner ia which the care had been stated by his learned brother, one might be lee to suppose that the extent of his clieats provocation lay in the appii-ation of ibe epithet “‘mon- ster.’ This is not the ease; there are other facts knowa te your Honor; facts which are familier to every reader of the newspapera—which have been, through the ms- cium of the public press, the ‘ergue of scandal, or common rumor, scattered broadcast through the land. How bas the Atvorney General procured the “facts” which he has stated? Trey could only have come to him through the testimony given before the Grand | Jwy. This, then, becomes another preof of what I ave affirmed: that there are facts, and well knowa facts, 100, connected with this matter, which have fad no small effect in Pte g the consequeaces of this trial. Enough bsen broazht to light to justify me im seying tuat the defendant should have the fit of all the mitigating circoms‘ances which we shall deduce from he affijavits we — filing. It should be recollected that these mat- 3 occurred in Newport during the height of the fash- ionable seacon. when that feverish love of excitement, which is ever generated by a watering place, gave double power to the reports of scandalmonjers; and that, far- thermore, it was through the gossiping disposition of these pereons. as also the conrse of constant aggravation pursued by Mr. Hone, that the vi lation of the law os- curred to which the accused have so fresly pleaded guilty, Nor shoulé the prejudice asturally growing out of statements like theie be segarda to the disadvantags of my clients. Such reports are a moat uncertain guide; snd uniformly, up to this time, geither in conversation, nor :hrovgh the medium (f we pndite presd, have thesa ntlemen (flere to pat forward tueir own statements, No. it hs been the prosecutors who have put forth their = statements of these trentactions. My clieots have freely adwitted their violation of the law, and we now ‘ask to mitigate their sentence by provirg to this Court & series of provocations on the part of the geotleman as seuited, f owed up, not cay after day, but nouc by hour, #nd well calculated to lead to just such reanits, It will appear that Mr. Hone claims to be the friend of my clients’ fanily, and, qoreover, that it was in be baif of the duty he owed to that friendship that he sew ft to interfere in the domestic relations of Mr. Morgen. Mr. Morgan had nad difficulties with his wife: these difficulties have now been settled, ard the parties have since lived together on the sams, if not upon ‘8 more favora sle footing, before. Their difficulties needed Do Had any judicious persoa interfered the result would have been widely different. But with all this Mr Hooe makes an application for writ of babeus corpus, alleging that the wife of M Morgan was restrained of her persons! liberty at the hands of her busband and he coes tris at a time when Mra. organ was at liberty—when she bad never been otherwise than lerge—it beiag known to Mr. Hone that such waa the case, that on the ver) day when the alleged conflict took Ye:, wita all this Mr. B. sta‘es that she was restrained of her liberty im @ cer- tain room of the Truro Mouse, in this vity—and this by the agency of her own husband. Mr. I obtains his writ, and, accompanied by the sheriff, wich Messrs, Sheffield and Perry, proceeds to the Truro House, somewhere be tween the hours of nine and ten o'clock ?. M. My client who bad returned fromthe steamboat wharf about the same hour, found the parties at the hotel. At this tims be had no sequatntance with Mr. Hone; he had never even spoken lr. H. asked if he was Mr. Morgan, to which my client replied in the affirmative, Mr. H. then exp'ained what they had come for; they went up staira into Mr. Morgan’s room, and found a state of things thare which abundantly proved that their visit was unexpected, Bada surprise to'Mre, Morgan. She was ta bed, a were also ber childven. Mr Morgan then asked to see the writ on which his family were to be taken from him. His re- quest was refused. My elient repeated his request, it was eguin disregarded, und the pacties take their ce- pariare, besring away his wife and children, without any exhibition of their authority for so doing. Tae Sherif ‘was new in office, and under these exciting circumstances may have forgotten bis duty; but that the course should bave neither the showing of the writ nor ex- ita contents, is most singular. Thas, then, was family of my client rent from him. It was done sum. }, even before be could obtain the advice of a lawyer, he had seat, Daring this alfair, the party interfering was using the most outrageous and abusive Jom all of which Mr Morgan thought then, now, that it _ eo bmn we bed ne her from his family, the ry which was’ obtained ? it was effected without the knowl edge of his and, finally, most improper'y served. Mr. M. it was their intention to take dren, whether they bads right or rot. Oo the day {ol this oecurrence all Br vid made their noe before the Court, where aa investigation was which resulted in the Coart advi & recenoilia tom, and Mrs. M. under the aship of the Bo ES t, who was enjoined to permit the father ve free access to bia chilirem. An hour after 5 ‘anxious to cerry out the advice of if possibly effect a reconciliation, ‘the Bellevue, and inquired for Mr. Hone, asked to neo his ate ae - weat in broug ht out the eldest—a litte girl—into pi Mr. Morgan naturally believed was iatended te insult and exasperate him He refused to accept of gash an interview, and insisted upon going ia. He did #0, and playing with his chiluren wheo tho Pe poy “There was enongh of that,’’ adding ome us A F s attend te business; [ wart to read you » @pte- ment of facts’ To which Mr. Morgan replied, “I tna’t wnat Hy thea loft, do. todo with businers.”’ rt seek anocher meeting with his children ‘: | priscned or restrained of her liberty by him, but on the Morgan's family in Paris, Mr. absent from op -d of residence, sepa: his family—his aud children being under the the Rey. Mr Dumomt—Mrs. Morgen baving in the mvaa time . mn, under tae representations of Mr, Hone, for divoree, as also another for a separate maint -- mance, there ‘no occa*ion for the filiag of such peti+ tions,’ Thongh all these things would in themselves hi deen sufficient to have exasperated Mr, M. no means all of the provocations rec: attending the taking of testimony on Friday evening, to which te had been duly cited, Mr H ne took occasion to i ¢’ grossly, without cause, by When Mr. George Selden, the brother of his wife’s father, came on athis (Mr. Morgan’s) request, and by his and intervention had sought to reconcile the wife with ber husband, their counsels were overboru+ by the ad- vice of Hone, until Sunday, when Mr. M obtained an in terview with his wife, and the reconciliation took place But Mr. H. does not stop here. On the Tuesday following, after knowing that this recoucidtion has deen effected, he seeks an interview with Mrs. Morgaa, the day before the assault, and attempts to dissuade her by stating taat no promises made by her busband would be b. ‘ing upon im after he had once more got her iato his power, that no reliance could be place? ou nis word and hit pledge would most certainly be brokew, Such, for instance, a8. a promise wade by him that shes ld go to Paris and visit her father. and also o1 iven in relation to the vaming of ner child. Tnes te comiwg to the knowledge of the ascused exeited him agaius and resulted in ttack of Wednestay mor therefore offer tl facts in mitigation. {n the yourger of my clients, Mr. Mathew Morgan, Jr., who is charged with having beeo present, at the request of bis brother, and aiding ard abetting ia tho same as- aault, by neglecting to interfere by preventing the attack, Twilladnitt that when his brotuer obuslied Mr. Hons he said that be approve iit. But when Mr. Hone said, in expostulation, t) Mr Morgan, “ Wul you strike an old man?” Mr. Mathew Morgan desired his brother to desist, and he did so eccerdingly. I will now lay before your Honor the following documents, which are submitted by the defenoe:— Ist. The application of Mr. Hone for a wri: of habeas corpus, aworn to on the Sth of September 1853. 24. The deposition of W. R, Morgan under oath. Sd The deposition of Mathew Morgan, Jr., whieh i1also subseribed ard sworn to. Of there two latter documenta I have baen enabled, through the kindness of Mr. Morgan’s couasel, to obtain copies. be these remarks the learned counsellor aided ths fol- lowing:—In relation to the allegations contained in the petition for divo.ce, we may vay that Mrs. Morgan in- iora.ed Mr. B, that both the statement of her being re- strained of ber liberty, aod also that of bis habitual ill treatment, were false which allegations were, notwith standing, retained, contrary to the remoastrance of Mrs. Morgen, and against her assertion that they were falxa. I will now proceed to read the statement of these gentle- men under ca b. ‘The Morgans’ eflidavits were then read:— AFFIDAVIT OF WILLIAM B. MORGAN, I, William R. Morgan, of New York, on oath depose and says— ny Gifficulties which have heretofore existed between this deponent and his wife having been entirely recon- cijed, this deponent does not eem it necessary or proper make any allusion, to the cirenmstances’ attending them, although he by no means acmits that he has ever been guilty of the gross viclations of his duty asa has bani and father which have been charged upon him. deponer tanys, that st no time has his wife been ia- con'rary, has been at all times free to go and come with- out any restraint from this dapocent wad especially on the day before and on the:day when a writ cf habeas corpus was sued out against this deponent, was hia wife at large, and free to go wherever she might choose, and did actu ally zo, without apy restraint, to the hotel where Isaac B Hepa was staying, and did havo interviews with the said Hone ard hia family: so that when the said Hone mace oath that the wile of this Ceponent was imprisoned or resiraincd of her liberty ke mace oath to that which war, in fact, not true, and which he, tha said Hone bad the very bent means of knowiag was not trae. Toat on Monday, ihe ffth day of Septe: from the steamboat wharf to the Touro , Where himself and family were then staying, about half-past nize o’c ock io the evening, he was ac: costed in the hall by [vac Mr. Morg ? acd then said that be camo with the Sheriff to take depcnent's wite and children away to the Belie- vue House, where be hed engaged rooms for trem, apd that the Sheriff had a writ of habeas corpus for that pur pose Deponent asked said Hoge to walk up stairs into the room occusied by deponent’s wife and chi'dren; and when Le ceme to said room be found that neither his wife | and seid be hoped be would hear ro more of the matter; nor children were prepared to leave, but, on the covtrary that bis wife was aastily packivg up a sual valice, ao that the children were in bed and about to be dressed by the curse, which circumstances were calculated to pro- | cuce, and di in the 1 nd of this deponeat a suspicica w these proceedings had been insti- gated by Mr. Hone, and that they were without the Knowledge and consent of ceponent’s wife, which sas yicion was afterwards confirmed by a siatement to this | i obese by his wife, in contidence, that the writ of hhabess corpus was obtained without her knowledge and consent, and that when the officer came to serve the same she was taken entirely by surprise, having retired for the right, ‘and being actually in bed. Tae ceponeat then asked the Sheriff to allow him to see ihe writ by virtue of which bis wife and children wera to be be takeo irom him. Deponent will not undertake to give the words in which this request was refased but he is poritive that it was refuse¢, as well when it wos Grst made, a# upon one or two subsequent ocea- sions whew it was repeated, and that the officer ani the parties with him departed sith deponent’s wife and chil- ereu, after having two or three tines refured to show de- yonent the process by virtue of which this act was done. This deponent learned, with surprise, the next morning, rom Li- cour sel, that the writ cit not acthoriae tue offi cer to take the chiidien, and this fact tended to conviace | tae Cepovent that the parties who bad thus interfered ia bis ccmestic aifairs coatent to execute ia a pro- per manner & RH as they hac, but were de- teru.ued to separate this Ceponent fect his famil>, at allevents, and whether they had legal warrant for ther eo: duet cr not. This depcnent attempted to gan tina, and to have an opportunity to consult counsi: bat #0 summary were the proceedings that before Mr. Cranxton, for whom he had sent, could arrive, bis wife and children bad been removed. Thir deponent rays that dariag th time when his wife azd children were being removed, sbove etated, the language of the sail Hone towa this Ceponent was of a violent and aburire character, and was very offensive to this deporent, aud as Mr, Hone, up to this tive, wan ap_pntire stranger to this Ceponen:; and during the whole time when depocent was feeking to obtain this plain right of acitizen, Mr. Hone, upor whose application the writ was iesued, acd his coun: tel, Messrs, She ffield and Perry, were present, and neither of them made any euggestions to the She iff that he ought to comply with the request of the deponen’, uatil after the sheriff was about guing down, or had govdowa stairs, with deponent’s wife and ch‘idcea, when Mr. Shef- field rema:ked that ‘there was no impropriety in depo- nent’s seeing the writ;’’ buteven then no writ was shown tohim. The next morning tais deponent appeared be- fore the Court, Then the Judge resxow mended peace and reconciliation. He repeated this aavice mofe than once, anc enjoined upon ev. Mr. Damont, under whore charge epovent’s wife and cbildrea hed been placed, to see Mrs. Morgan and endeavor vo bring about & reconciliation. and to ailow this deponent to see bis cuildren and converse with them freely on ali suitable occasions; that within an hour afterwards thia ceponent, bopiog that all parties would be disposed to adopt this recommeadativa of the Judgs, and being dispored himselt to overlook any inja- ries which he had sustained, called at the Ballevue House and icquired for Mr. Bone, and ssid to him thathe bec called to vee bis (deponent’s) children, Mr. Home and deponen: then went up staira into the hal), and Hone went into the rooms tuen occupied by deponent’s nurse snd children and brought out deponent’s little into the hall, that the deponeat migut there have an interview with his child io a place where any of the large rumbers of people staying at this public hotel werelikely to pass. This coaduct on the part of Mr. Hore, the deponent then considered, and uow considera, as iodeicate in the extreme, and insultiag, and then be- Heved, and row believes, was invended ea yhe eaid Hone toapnoy and exasperale the feelings of this deponent r, wha this deponent | Hone, who asked, “1: titis | templated, be dissuated her from tt, telling! her that no document could be made and that no reliance could be placed upon the af this depoment; moreover, that when a statement of upon which a etition was to be Gled. was drawn umder the direction o” tt Fone, containing the allogstions ‘that this de onent bad imprisoned or restrained his wife of her liberty, an hac been guilty of habitual brutal treatment of his chil dren, Mr. Hone waa informed by deponent’s wife that veiber of said statements were true, and yot Mr, Hou» mitted them te remain in the statement; that when ir. Hone knew that reconciliation had been made. he was not content but weat to deponent’s wife and told her that depopent’s promises could not be relied on—that deponent would not take her to France, aa he had pro mised, and would not allot wr to have her infaat child, as he had promised, but that deponent would get her in his power, and would then break all his promises, and that no dependence could be placed on deponent’s word— which circumatances were communicated to this depo kent by his wife. in confidence, on Monday and Tuesday, (the Gay preceecing the arsault,) aad did excite and ex asperate the feelings of this defendant towaris the said Mr. Hone. And this deponent, from the time the writ of habeas corpur was served, down to the time when the assault was made upon Mr. Hone, acted uader the influ- ence of feelings produced by the conviction which he then entertained, that Mr, Hooe ha intertered, without cause, and ina most imsroper manner, ia his domestic atfaira, and had treated this deponent ia the most unjust, insult ing. and vindictive manner. This deponent says that the Gfliculty between himself and his wife was of sacha pature that it did not require any interference, and t easily have been reconciled without any interfer ence, ax 1s evident from the fact that it was reconciled, (although Mr. Hone had us:d his influence to prevent such reconciliation;) and deponent and his wife sailed together for Europe soou after, lived ther at a hotel in Paris, although Mrs. Mcrgan had full permission of thia deponent to go to her father’s house in Paris, with-her children, ifsbe had so chosen; that deponent and wife continued te live together in Paris, until the de; at left for this country, when she went, her children, with the consent of this ceponent, to her father’s house, in Paris, with the understanding between deponent and his wife that she was to remain there, unless deponent should obtain and furnish a howse, when at deponent’s request she would jein him with her children in this country. (Signed,) © WILLIAM R. MORGAN, AFFIDAVIT QF MATHEW MORGAN, JR. I, MatLew Morgan, Jr., of New York, oa oath, depose ond _ the brother of William R. Morgan. My said brother had, previous to the time when he mace th ‘aujt upon Mr. Hone, stated to m ‘tantially the fac contained in said affidavit 1 knew that mz brother i tended to make the assault. I was present when it made, ana did notbing to prevent it. When the assault ade, I said to my brother ‘Give it to him.’? Soon after, when Mr. Hone said, Wil youstrike an oldman?” { wok hold of my brother and requested him to desist, and he did so, I did mot lay my hands upon Mr. Hone. (Signed, ) MATHEW MORGAN, JR * TES CIMONY OF WM. H. CRANSTON. William H. Cravston, Keq. of Newport, R L., an attor nry and couneellor at Jaw snd one +f the counsel for the accused. being du'y sworn. says—I wax sitting at the table in the court room, durisg the investigation in the matter of Mr. Morgan’s difficulty with his wife, whan my attention was attracted by Mr. Hone’s uttering, in a ver} loud tone of voice, being at the same time very muc excited, and having his right hand extended, the epithet’ “Monster.” I had heard nothing said by jorgan. Then, turning to me, Mr. Hone ssid that he, (Morgan,)’ had groasly insulted Mrs, Otis, who was then giving her testimony; knowicg ’ thet Mr. Hore was excited, [ advired him to restrain Sie feel- irgs; Mr. Hone said that he (Morgan) had insulted the witness by grimacing; Mr. Morgan was sitting near to me at this time, rot farther thaa five feet, on the opposite side of the table; when I spoke to Hone Morgan came and sat down. but said nothing; [complained to Mr. Gilpin, the magistrate, of the conduct of Mr. Hone; I have heard the affidavits of the Morgans read; the statements contained in them are the same as those which I heard them make at the time. CONVERSATION OF COUNSEL. The counsel for the defendant _here remarked that they had expected to have proved by tie testimony of Mr. Townsend, of the Traro House, that Mrs. Morgan was not preset they would pass to another. The Attorney General bere said, that he had heard the statements read which hed been set forth by the defen.e, and could gay that the color which they were intended to give to thesé transactions was a false cae—their object being to show that Mr Hone acted from a spirit of offictous interference. For myself. I believe thatif tbe whole truth was known Mr. Hone wou'd hare deserved the epithet of “monster”? had he acted in any different man- mr from the coorie which he has pursued. That woman ne ded some friexd to interfere in her behalr, He felt cailed upon to do so. I bave prepared no long af. fidarits for the newspapers; I have occupied no time ia writing out long testimonies. But it seems to me that these affidavits will be of but little weight. Now, so far | fiom there being no reason for this interference of Mr. Hore in the domertic relations of the a:cused, the whole | town was filled with rumors of Mr. Morgan’s ill'treatment; | with stories, rotof Hone’s, bu‘ of the boarders at the Truro House—atd Mrs. Mcrgen’s own statement proves this necessity—the marks upon whose face confirmed the words of her mouth. No words, but words of anger, had pasred his lige for some weeks past. during which period irs. Mo: gan bad given birth toa child. Sverything call- ed upon Mr Hone to interfere. I am satiafied that the | evidence will bear me out in saying that such interference | was right and proper on the partof Sr. Hone, He had heard complaints of violence before; he had complaints from her Mrs. M. had personally requested Mr. Lone to ce nfer with Judge Slide!l on the possivility of getting a civorce snd the manner of obtaining it; and now affide- vits come in to preve that all this is false, At this m- ment it is evident that Morgan (who admita his guilt) ‘wes pursuil g towards bis wife a most unrelesting system of tsrenny ; aud these facts, paiaful as they are to go in’o, most appear to justi'y Mr. H in his cou. Iwant Mr. Hone, in giving bis testimon:, to be rubdjected to the se verest croes examination. The defeudan.s don't wart to put themstives up—— Hrie Mr. Payne, one of the defendants’ couase’, re- waiked, * Yes they do." Hore procures these petitions for divorce, the laly signs them, ard obtains affi avite, but atill there is noexcuse for the interference thore seems to have heen no old enmity between those jartie-; previous to these events they had bern pervect strangers. Mr. Hone had, therefore, interfered for the lady’s sake alono. I | understand Mr. Payns to say that these ateries of vio- Jenee on the part of Mr. Morgan towards bis wife sre all false; but we believe that our Ceporitions will show the contrary. Mr Payne here remarked—*‘ We want those same depo- sitions; we have been trying to get them for some tine ”’ TESTIMONY OF I3AAC 8. HONE. I-aae 8. Hone, Faq, being duly sworn says—My a9- quaintance with the parents of Mr. Morgan began some twenty-five er thirty years aco: on iny visit to Paria, in 1852, 1 found them stopping at the same hotel where I was myrelf lodging; I found Mr. Selden, the father of Min Morgen, in a melancholy state of paralysis; while in Parir, I formed an intimacy with Doctor Bertin, who stated that Mr. Sslden’s complaint war from the effects of the shock inflicted upon him by seeing Mr. Morgan chastie his (Mr. Selen’s) denghter in is proseace; I was in constant and familiar intercourse with the Sel- dens, during which time f-equent reference was made to the same transaction by them; at that time I was en- tirely unacquainted with Mrs. Morgan; the whole period of time consumed by all the interviews which I have ever had with her would not amount to more than one ands Lalf or two hours, returnieg home in June last with those impretsione, I went to Newport, where I learned that Mfr. acd Mrs. Morgan were livivg together in s state of great discomfort snd unbappiness; I learned from the ladien of the Truro House, that he treated ber badly; I was informed by a lady—Mrs. Douglass of Baltimore— thst Mra. Morgan would have wanted for her meals from the hotel table, if she herself had not sent them to her wy her own servant; I knew from most undoubte{ autho- rity that upon Mr. Morgaa’s departure from Newport, nbortly before the birth of his child—alhough Mca, Mor- gan was sitting in the parlor with the other ladies at the hotel—he never went in to bid her farewell; and that af- ter his recurn he came into his wife's room, and took up her infant, making some rew erk upon its ugliness, butad- éreseing no words to the mother of his child, I am as cured that for » period of six weeks’ time he never spoke ore word to her, except to use the most grous, indecent, ‘and outrageons language; between the 20th of Jaly and and to prevent the reconciliation which the Court had chiléren, ocd had been with ment, p Mir. Hene drew from bis pocket a paper, and said, “ Coms, Mr. Morgan, enough of this; let u# proceed to basiness— Iwant to read you a statement of facts ;’’ or words to hem only ® mo: that effect. To which deponent replied, ‘Mr Hone, the last words of the Jucge were words of peace and reorn- ciliation, Jn that spirit I have coms to see my chil- dren, and I wish to have nothing to do ith bu yr And cepcnent refused to hear the paper read. The man ner of Mr. Hone was auch, and deponeat’s iaterview with his cbiliren was ro b cried aud of su mortify1og @ nature, that deponer t, by advice of counsel, as well ns upon his own judgment, rerolred not to avail himeef of the right cf reeing his children until he could nave an oppor'unity to complain to the Judge and have the order #0 enforced that depor ent could have xn opportucity to see his chil- dren without being rubjected to similar mortitic tion in fature, On the Friday qgenicg afterwards, when dopo- nent was in attendance upon a citation to attend the tak- ing of testimony in @ petition for divorce which had been filed by bie wifs agai im, (as this de poner t is inform. ed and believes, by vice and direction of aaid Hone,) at the Rellevue House, anc while a witness was under ex sminetion, ané had given an answer to a quertion, which arswer meemed to deponent to be of very litle importance, this deponent smiled, and said, “That's capital,” ina low tone. Mr. Hone arose and said, ina most violent and in sulting manner, ‘Mr. Magistrate, I cali your attea ion to the ccmtesptuous sneer ujon the face of that moaster (pointing to deponent,) and if you do not demand and Grate iovtact satisfaction, I wili myself, even if] bave te ut him out of the room.” This unprovoked insult nded further to convince deponent of the vincictive feel- ings of Mr. Hone towards h m, and tha; he, (Mr Hone,) intenced to ¢o ever; thing in his power to bring deponent into disgrace. On the mowing after the writ of haveas corpus was served, this ceporent sent s telegraphic des patch to Mr. George Selden, the brother of his wife's fa- ther, and her pearest relation ia this country, to come on to Newport, and he came on Thursday au\ ssw the wite of thi: deponent ; and, asithis d-poaent ts informed and believer, ured his influence to oring abo at a recoacilis- tion between this deponent and his wife. But his eoun- pels were not heeded ; he was supplanted, and Mr, Hone continued hia interference, altaough # mach more proper adviser for Mrs. Morgan was precent, which further con- vinced deponent that Mr. Hone was reeking, not so much the wel'sre of Mrs, Morgan as tha tnjary and disgrace of this deporent. On the Sunday followiag, deponent saw hia wife, and then, and on Mon fay and Tuescay, hed con fidential conversations with her, in the course of which confidential conversation, be was informed by his wife that the writ of habeas corpus had been obtained by Mc. Hon , without her knowledge or eonseat, and mush to her eury ilation was brought about between deponent and his wi'e, tho terms of which wore to be, aud were sfiertarda, redneed to writing, and after such re- conciliation, this ¢eponent vas informed by his wife, in confidenos, of conduct on the part of Mr. Hone which convinced bim of the tra'h of bis form +r suspicions, that Me Bone hed acted towards nim in tne most unjastidanie ‘and vindictive maner Ha wan informed by his wifa that when Mr, Hone heard that a reconciliation was con- recommended, ‘This deponent protested against thiscon- | Guct, and ootained admission to the room with his | ja;ing with them and caressing them, when | the E0theor the same month I consulted Judge Slidell of New Onlesns, by request of Mrs. Morgan, en the com rative Cf obtaining a divorce in’ the S:ates of uisiana, New Yo k or Khode Island; to whieh Jadge Slidell replied that there were no particular facilities in to that effect, which re- to her in writing; she was sorry tha’ euch was (nor about the 16th of Avgust she sent word thet she wished to see me; she told me that she could bear the treatment of her busband no loager; a6 wished me tocorrult wih counsel; I did #0; sh: ivformed ms that her husbacd bad usec personal violencs towards har while at West Point some nix wevks before this cocur vence, coucsel arked if Mra M. could rs thia violence; Lacawerrd, I thought net, he remarked that ia ‘mat case he « id pot believe that a d.vorce coui! be obtainedia Rhode Island, which I a!so communicated to Mra. M ; on the evening of September 4 I learned that Mr. Woliiam & Morgan had been whipping his wi'e; this was from com- mon report; on the following day, about 12M, I passed purperely by the Truro House, hoping to see her; sue was on the piszza of the botel with her littl girl; at vhis tive ker husband was also upon the piazzs, sitting vpon @ chair, distant about twenty feet from his wife; I com mevced aernversation with Mv. Morgan im an ordinary tone upon indifferent subjects when, suddenly drosping my voice, Iraid, “Can Ten’ely awear that you were jes terdsy beaten by your husband, Louisa?” her answer “You, most certainly,” [thea added, “Remembor, my dear ebild, yor have » warm friend ia me;"” to which she repliec by an asrenting smile; I went to Brovi dence accordingly, and took out a -rit ¢f habeas corpus. Question by the Attorney General—Did she not also state that rhe was resirained of her libert:? A. 1 believe tha: ste stated that she was restrained; rot in an absolute senre; I kearcely know how to define it there was a system of epying and es} ionage establiah- ed over her; no fotter could be received by her, and none were permite» to go out from her, unless they had peen reviously examined by Mr. Morgan; there was alio « Fiquent locking of one door of her apwriceat, though there was another which was left open; sho was also de barred from visitirg ladies—persom of the highest re spectability in Newport; all of which is true so help me God. Question by the the Attorney General—Did she have any marks of violence upon her face? A, She did have those marks upon her face; I went to Providence, retarned with a writ of habeay core us, and proceeded to have it served; we want to Mrs, Serge room. where the Sheriff served the writ; afier the Sheriff entered ber room for this purpose [ met Mr Mo:gan; I said to him, kiodly aud pleasantly, * Mr. Morgan, 1 Bave come hare with an officer to nerva'a writ of habeas ocrpus;!’ this I said to preparr him; [ bore no ms lice towards bia; I wen into theic rom, where he io- #iantly addressed an ernest remonstrance in Freacn to the vurse, begging her to cesint from ber preparations for taking away the children; he ordered ner not to ko oF she would be committing ao act of treason; | ro weber the expression perfectly: he used the Fieoch vod Deamon; port yt ee except to remari he nur-e in euch pare Frenen ae | can muster, ‘ft is your duty togo with Madame and the childern; My taten- th ne in coing these things were simply 10 protecta de- fercelass woman, +o help me God; on Oar next interview he came and said he wished to see his chiliren; the two children, the girl and eldest boy, were in the room he rat down and played for some five minutes with the chil- dren, and thea said to the daughter, “Go into the room sud teil msnma that papa wants to see baby: the oor was lected, although ghe knew that ker husband was there; Mfs. Morgan came out with ber infant in her orm Merga® put out bis band; she ¢ceclined to accept * What, not one shake of the hand,” said he; Mra gan then said to me, “Mr, Hone, I revi for me,” and returned to her own room. Morgan »gain enid to the child “Go inand call mamma;” I said, Mr Morgan. this 18 going to» far; she han positively fused to re* you; you are taking an unkind advantage,” he got up and wrung we by the band so that soy feeb fivgers were pained by the grasp and left the room; she had twice refused to sea him in ny presence: che refused the Rev. Mr. Da- went, now in” court, when, in his character as acbristiam pastcr and teacher urged her to grant hin (Mr. Morgan) an ioterview; I should add to this that I have received tae most eloquent expressions of gratituce for my efforts ix behalf of their daughter trom the parents of thi# unbappy young woman; I have received three letters from Mr. and Mrs, Selden, which I now hold ia my hand. a» I bave aiready stated. he himself is paralyzed; these epl+ties are in the bandwriting of his wife; tais ‘mark, restrained of ber liberty; but as that witness was not | mace with his own feeble hand, (the witness here pointed to the signature,) attests his concurrence in the senti- ments of the writer. (The following letter was then read by Mr. Hore Mr Payne objected to its contents being made krown to the public, and suggested that it should be read by the court. The objection was overrruled, and a letter read, dated Paris, October 5, 1858, LETTER OF LUDLEY SELDEN, Panis, Oot. 6, 1853, ‘0 ISAA0 8. Hown, Ee My Drax Sin—My list letter, covering one to Mrs, Mor- gon, bears Cate the 30th ult., and was despatched by the Collins line; I hope it will arrive in safety. Dr, Bertin and Mrs. Selden a1e so fearful that I may be too muoh ex- cited, under the present state of my paralysis, that they seem meplbeige let me receive the newspapers from home. I know enough of my own complaint to believe, that unless my sickness becomes more intense, and my miad becomes peralyved as moch as my limbs, that there is a strong probability of my ultimate recovery. I hope that my powers may be seatored, that I may at some future day Teeent my own wrongs. I nave recently heard that itup pears in some newrpaper that Mr. Morgan bad under taken to strike you. J trust you have not suffered much in my cause. How very thankful I am to you for your kindness, What you have dene in regard to the divorce of my davghier from Mr. Morgaa meets my entire approbation: and although her conduct in going back to him seems to be very difficult to defend, yet I know so well about that mam, that he ia s> false an so brutal, that she has probably been deceived or terri- fied into it. I did at one time expect that she would have found a wise as well as a kini defender in my-vrother, hut I fear Morgan has misled him also against my owa oyinion. Let me tell you there is but ons other favor Shee can do for me; that is, to sue him for an assault. jo good can be rendered to Mrs, Morgan or myself but to strip him of bis last dollar. A man of his ag, who would lay bis hand upon @ man of your age, will re- ceive the punishment he dgserves from a jury of his country. 1 have told Mre. Morgan herself that the great- est misfcrtune that ever overtook Morgan was his rapid and successful acquisition of money, and nothing could covtribute eo much to her safety or the safety of her chiléren but to lose his Jast dollar Yours, most truly, LUDLEY SELDEN, [bis mark j P. 8.—I bave just got access to anextract in the Hxgatp. I see you have already taken legal proceedings; but you have committed a great error in laying your damages for $20,000; you ought to have laid your dsmages at $100,000 to do all the good which can bedone. You are now made the instroment to do a great right, and to redress a great wrong I fear you have not the high eonfideace in a jury of your countrymen as Ihave Iam sure that the Feople of Rhode wellaa the people of New York, will rejoice to be adie to rit on such @ jury, and to do so much honor to their own ‘ree instituiions. See how much isto be done. Two young men, wo have been taught to commi: oy violence, and who pride themselves in their money, requiie to be punished, and to learaa use ful ard permanent lesson, which will not only do a service tothem, but be ar example toall other young men. At the fame time, @ man advanced in years is struck down by them for dois g notaing but protecting = defencaless wo man and ber children from the brutality of her husband, who ia only a bold man when he can assaila woman, children, or ck age. I am only eorry that young Mathew Mo: gan is mixed up in this adair. Heis I think, a youag max of come heart: yet he ought not to escape ai all; at the same time I know that you would see jusice done to him, even if he should be too severely handled by a jury. 4 You may make known my cpinion, even to the extent of publication. Yours, DUDLEY SELDEN, (his mark.] Every word is mine. D. 8. Ques'ion b: known Mr. Selden ? A. For five and twenty years. Question by A'torney General —Have you heard any otber complaints of Morgan’s ill-treatment of his wife? A. Yesrir, her husband beat her during this summer, at West Point; some difficulty which occurred at her accouchment, ‘was attributed, by her, to the effects of these blows. Qvestion by Attorney Gereral—Did you call Mr. Mor- sna monster, and if 60 why? ‘A. I éid; this occurrence took place on Fridsy, Sept. 9 1853, and was calied forth by the accused’s behavior towarcs Mrs. Oiis, the wife of Jame: Otis, of New York city, whe was then giving her testimony under tai setiton for divorce; at the clore of her direct examin: tion Mr Cranston sud bia client (Mr. M.) had left the rorm for a momen!; during the perlod of their absence Yirr. Otrs made some sharp comments upon the manter in which Mr. Morgan had been staring at her during tha giving of ber testimony; the parties presently. returaad. J hac not remarke: this conduct on the part of Mr. Mor- gan, but Mr. Sh+flield had; my attention had been entire. ly txed vyon the evidence; after the return of Mr. Creueten spd bis client, Isaw an expression of couate barce onthe part of M’. M. during the cross examination which th ugh citheult to cefine, was evidently intended io aveoy or intiaidate the witress; [asked Mr. Sheffield to change ibe position of Mra. Otls, which he did—thus withéiawiog her from bia cireet gaze; shortly after, in ansver to some statement of the witness, Mr. Morzan smeered loud in a very contemptuous macner. which, though scarcely to be dytcribed, was excesdingly offen- rive—*that's capital; I arose and said to the Commis- sioners “keep that mom ter in order, or 1 will redress the wrongs of the witness myself.” Jr. Cranntoa raid, I bave heard no outrage; I said, “Sir, your client cannot deny it” Question by Attorney Gensral—It has been stated that there have been ez parte statements of these affairs which have been furnished to the public press, have you con- tributed, influenced or procured any newspaper para- graph in relation te there matters? Answer—I have never furnished, prepared, influenced, or in apy way forwarded avy communication to the pub- lio presa in relation to there matters; on the co trary, I an convirced that distorted statements of the facts have been published under the guarantee of the coun:el for the opposite party; I again dery all agency in any such articles. Ques:ion by Attorney Gereral—Did you ever seek any other intersiew with “rs Morgan’ Answer—Mr. George Selden arrived here on Thursday night; on Saturday night I went to see Mrs. Morgan; I saw Mr. Morgan in the room with his wife; Iraid I will call sgain; she bad banded me a roleau smounting to $735, which I bad depcsited in the Traders’ Bank; on Satuztay ever ing. from this appearance of reconciliation 1 sought arother interview at a later hour, and said to Mra. M., ‘ Isuppose a xeconciliation has taken place; your uncle, (alludizg to Mr Seldea.) is here; I look to you, Mr. Seld xpenses growing out of eck for the amount ceived,‘ my agency will no longer be re- then turning to Mra.,Morgan, I said, ‘ Louisa, be uard; do you believe that the promises w will be any more binding than thore made in '—alluding to a promise ina letter from her hus- band to her, which I had read, to this effect:— “TI pro- mise, if Lever strike you again, I will do—so and s0;” I cautioned ber inthe same paternal spirit with which I bed taken up her cause; I felt that my agensy in the wat’er was ended; I bave never seen her since to my knowledge. @. (by Attorney General)—In this assault committed upon you, cid Mr. Matthew Morgan, Jr., prevail upen his brotber to desist from bir attack upon you? A. It is false, he did not; [was accosted at the door of 8 cerriage, into which I bad just handed my wife, on the 14th of July, last, by ® yourg man whom I did nct at that time know, but whom I have since learned wos Matthew Morgan, Jr.; he said, ‘Is your name Hone!’ 1 answered,“ Yee)? “Where can I see you’ was the rejoinder; 'I answered that I was onny way to a, and that I would be in New Yerkian tl first of Uct+ber; be said ‘{ can't wait +o lorg, will ou be 80 goor ar to wait a moment!” {cid +o, when Mr Wm. R. Morgan immediately rushed out, saying, * You called me # mcnster, and I have ome to pay you for it)” he then put bis hand into his breast, and drew Torth a ecw hide end strack me some ten or fifteen times; curtog this time I had to parry bis strokes with my um: breile, but ficding myself too wesk, I dropped my coat avd umbrella, closed with him, and seized him by the reat; I felt him violenUy withdraw, and saw Mr. Boa jemon K. Winthrop, who had him by the throat with his leit band, while he snatched away the cowhide with the ii, bt; at this time Mr, Matthew Mergap, Jr., was st least fifteen feet from us; 1 heard him exslaim, “That's rubt, give it to him—go it,” or worda to that effs.t, ncter the sffray was over, this young man declared that the assault bad been committed in pursuance of bis advice; he did nothing to separate me from his brother ; Tubal be rixty yesra old om the 1ith of February next; I om laborirg under # disease of the heart; I have taken medicai sdvice for it, and have been cautioned by my phyrician sgatpet any atropg excitement or effort. Croms-examined by Mr. Payne—Were these reports of ill-treata ent of M., »bich you heard, |, or the friends of her- ‘Copy } r parents? A—I had no personal acquaintance with Morgan, vor am Isware that be has got s friend; I had my atory of Mra. Morgan's ill treatment from the boarders in the Truro House, and from ber friends; Mrs. Otis and Mra. Ritche were the ladies whom Mrs. Morgan forbidden to visit, I sought ‘no interview with Mr. Morgan previous to tuking out the writ of habeas corpus, Mrs. Morgan did not state she was locked in; one door of her Apartment was locked; I drew the inference that she wae restrained of her liberty, and thus under a system of expiorage, as she could not go out without ber husband's know edge; I don’t know that Mrs. Otie gnd Mra Ritche were visited by Mrs. Morgan without Mer hus- banc’s consent; I had no communication on this subject with them; I never knew whether she obsyed her band’s orders or not in this reapect; J did not ask about ft, indeed I did not give it o thought; I hesrd Mr Morgan request to see the writ; I don’t know that it was abown to him; n0 suggested its being shown; the Sheriff said ‘he bad no right to ree 4t; at the ‘ime of our interview in the Bellevue House, I thought that Mr. Morgan was ra’isfied with my condast; Mr. Morgan cid not exprese this in words te my rec-llec: band a he took his leave; { bad no gainst him; I rhould have exchanged a cordial g-eoting with bim bad we met, ## corois! as wine ey published under the guarautes of Mr. Morgan's counsel, was, I delieve, an article in the New York Aterror, bepinving. Wo are assured by one of ti ccunrel for Mr Morgan that Mr. M, never beat his wife hought you had | Attorney General.—How long have you | but that Mr. Hone, hearing some outery, rushed into their room and inteifered,’” etc. ; have known of the publication of Boller peeronee. giving the Morgans’ version of the matter; I did not seo Mrs. Morgan azain until after Satur- day, wheal calleito avoonnee that I had relinquished wy ogency im her affairs [ was not consultes in these mat- ters after Saturday; Mre. Morgan never stated to me that the slieged assault upon her by her husband was faise, or that the report of his babitual eruelty to her vas untrus; it was on Saturday that I beard of the ficst ramor of a re conciliation between Morgan and bis wife I called oa Sa- turday evening vpon Mrs. M. with my wife; Mr. Morgen vas with ber; [called again on the Monday following; 1 gave ber uncle 3 check for her money deposited by my self in the Traders’ Bank this was my last interview; I then enuticned her against placing too implicit relianse upon the promires of ber hurbsrd. TESTIMONY OF BENJAMIN 8. WINTHROP. Benjamin R. Winthrop keq., of New York, being duly sworn say+:—Mattbew Morgan, Jr., did nothing to sepa rate his brother from Mr. Hone, the time of th eault upon that gen lec an; on the contrary, he x abetted, and advired his course; when | left porch to separa'e the parties I heard Mr. Matthew Morgan. Jr., say, “That is right, give it to him; he isasting under my advice; I ‘d upon Mr Wi Morgan’s back, and patched av ay his cowhide; I expressed my surprise to Mr. Mattbew Morgan at his course of conduct; Mr. thew Morgan said his brother did right, and added, has done right; he has acted from my advice;’’ he then left with his brother, was gone about five minutes, snd returned; vpon his return Ia: vanced to meet him, and said, “You miserable, contemptible coward, I am as tonisbed to see you show your face among gentle- men; [told him that I was astonished; he then said, “If any one wants to know who I am, here is my card;”? I enaweeed. ‘I’m ashamed to say that I have known you from childbood;,” I have known him f:om a child; 1 waa in my room at the Sellevue House with my wife, when I heard Mrs. Winthrop exclaim, ‘Look here: and saw Mr. W. R Morgan shaking Mr. Hon not see what occurred doring the time of my passage from my room to the scene of the dificulty; when I reached there Mr. Hone had dropped his cloak and um- brella, and cloved with Mr. Morgan; I leaped upon Me, W. R. Morgan’s back apd snatched away his cowhide; this is the one. [The cowbic ras here exhibited; it was an ordinary one, and looked new.) I saw Mr. lioue’s face; his right ear was lacerated to bleeding; there was a streak aciors his cheek, some two or two and a -half inches in length, which was also bleedixg; there wasan sure of the note, and am ark on th temple, producing ane: pesure of the , cheek; there = severe one as that ::00 the a little darkening of an ey«iid—his face was much marked; I was bere while Geors~ M. Sel- éen was in this place; I had a conversation vith him about the e matters; I met Mr. George Selden for the first time about thirteen years since; I was alttiag upon the piazen with Mr. 8.; he referred to these matters and said they were painful affairs, but he had deemed it bert for th of all parties concerned, axd particularly for the welfare of Mre. Morgan’s children, that a reconciliation should tabe place; he had therefore advised » somewhat different course from that which had been pursued; he wished them to live separate for a year; the lady to go to her father in Paris. 1 inferred from his remarks that Mr. George Selden approved of Mr. Hone’s ccnduot; he made no allusion to unwarranteble interference on the part of any one. (A little discussion here ensued be- tween the Attcroey General and Mr. Ames, in relation to the facta which were to be elicited from the witness) I €id not see Mr. Matthew Morgan, Jr., separate his brother from Mr. Hone; I speak from my own observation; I am positive that he did not say in French, “Enough—desiat,”” and thereby stop him, Mr. Hone recalled. Question by Attorney General— Did you make an application for a writ of habeas corpus under ad’ of counsel? A, I did. TESTIMONY OF REV. HENRY A. DUMONT. Rey. Henry A. Dumont. of Newport, RI, being duly sworn, saye—After Mrs. Morgan fied been placed in my ckarge, by the action of the court, I went to the Bollevue an¢ fought an interview with that lady; she at first ce- clined to cee me; I then sent a message, and went again cn the following day, when I had an interview with her, and sttempted {o effect » reconciliation batween herselt and her husbard; J urged upon her every argument which I imagized would have its effect upon a lady in the posi- tion of Mrs. Morzan; I brought forwari her duty as 9 wife, tho best interest of her children; I pointed out inevitable rerults of « continuance of the difficulty, and urged such arguments as a Christian teacher of th pel might, to induce her to change her determin: my attempt was in vain; her answer was, Sig, this is use'ess—I appreciate ycur remarks, but the treatment which I have received is such that I cannot consent to an interview with my husband -{ will endeavor to obtain a Givorce;” I answered, “1 rot concur in your views, be pel knows but ore cau tion, and that 1 not cated the rerult of this inferview to Mr.'C., and made arrangements for Mr. Morgan to see his children, TESTIMONY OF WM. P. SHEFFIELD, ESQ. Wm. P. Sheflield, Esq, of Newport, aa attorney and counsellor at law, and one cf the counsel for Mrs. Morgan in the petition for divorce, as also in the civil snit sgaivst Morgan, being duly aworn, exys—The Sheriff, Me. Hore, Col. Perry and myself,’ went tcgether te the ‘ruro House; upon arriving there we went into a private perlor and sent a message to Mr. Morgan: he was not in; After waiting fora time the Sheriff went up to Mra. Mor’ va ¢ rcom, leaving ua in the parlor; a short time és I was informed that Mr. Morgan had arrived; Col. Perry and mysef then went up to Mrs. Morgan’s rocm; we fourd Mr. Morgan there, #ith his wife, three chilcren anda French nurse; cur object in going up was to tare troucle ard serve the writ as delicately as pos- title; tpon. entering the room I found Mr. Morgan clnchea with the Sheriff I did not interfere to assiet the +) eriff, I thought the Sheriff was getting along very well with Mr. Morgan ae it was; I heard him eal upon the Sherif, while struggling with him, for a copy of the pre. cept; I don’t knew if he wanted to get it or to have it read to bim; we cid not come to teke Mra. Morgan’s chil cien: I said ao, the cbilcren went with their mother, the chose to have them with her—seemed determined to take them; Mr. Morgan tried to deter the nurce from going; Mrs. Morgan raid go; Mr Mo raid stay; in Sling the pelltion for divorces Talso fled one for seyarate fmaintenance; I desired to prevetit Mr. Morgan's interfereoce with bis wife by so doing: I am one of the counsel for the prosecution; I have been concerned in one newspaper publication in relation to these facts, ip this manner; I saw a statement in some panar to the effect that Col Cranston had stated that Mr. Morgan did not beat his wife;1 furnished a brief abstract of testimony to contradict this statement. Several depositions were here produced by the prosecu- tion, and read to the Court:— AFFIDAVIT OF LETITIA G. DOUGLASS. I, Ietitin G Douglass, of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, of lawful age, on solemo osth, depose ard ray:—That I noticed from the time of the arrival at the Truro Houre. in Newport, Rhode Island, of Mr. and Mre. Morgan, that Mr. Morgan trated his wife with the most marked neglect and inattention; this was observed by every on and particularly at the table, where he never took theleast notice of her; be was absent durin; the time of her confinement, and on his return continu to treat her with the sa) indifference and cruel neglect: had she teen an entire stravger to him his conduct could not have been more unnstural and Leartiess; one Sunday afternoon, while sitting in my rocm writing, I was sud denly alarmed by a distressing shriek; I jamped up and ran into the passage; the shrieks were twice repeat sceompanied by sounds that w unmistakesbly blows; Mr. Morgan’s voice was raised tos high pitch, in great anger, with oaths, threatening her with eevere punish- ment: I then re' to my room, where I found my daughter, Ms. Barclay, whom I left asleep, ina state of reat alarm, awakened by the sbrieking of Mrs. Morgan; then went down stairs to look for rome person to inter- fece in case of somethiog more dreadful occurring; Mrs. Morgan came down stairs that same veniog when decided marks of violence were plainly observed on her forehead and cheeks, (Signe¢) LETITIA GRACE DOUGLA33 State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, s3.—Baltimore, Nov. 11, 1853 —Then came the above named Mra Letitia Grace Douglas, and after being duly cautioned aed sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth, and n>thing but the truth, and being then and the.e examined, gave the be- fore-written Ceporition, which was by me reduced to wiiting in ber presence, and tigned by her in my pre sence. The adverse party was not present at the caption hereof, nor was he notitied to be present, te place of tsking the rame beirg more than one hundred miles from the pia: of the setting of the court where the deposition ‘was to be used. ‘Taken at the request ef the plaintiff, to be ured in ac tion of trespars pencing in the Court of Common Pieas in the State of Rhode Island, next to be holden at Newport, in and for the county of’ Newport, on the fourth Monday of November inatant, in which Isaac 5, Hone is plaintiff and William R, Morgan is defendant, Taken before me, & Commirsiorer for the State of Rhode Island, and prac- tiring and residing at Baltimore, in the State of Mary- land the day and year aforesaid. [3+6].] In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my- rame and affix my sal of office as commissioner aforesaid JAMES B, LATIMER, Commissioner. AFFIDAVIT OF GRACE BARCLAP. I, Grace Barela: ily of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, of oath Gepore ard eay:—Tbat I am he wife of Walter C. Rerelay, of eaid clly of Baltimore; that my husband nnd myself wore boarders at the Truro House, in Newpo:t, kt ode Irland, in the months of July, Ausust, and Sep- winter, row jast passed. That William R. Morgan and wite arrived and t ok lodgit gs at raid house. Tobserved, -urng their own and my residence at the Touro Aouse, tat he } abitually trested his wife with the most marked reglect and inattention. This was observed by every one, and partirularly at the table, where he never tcok the Jeast notice of her or offered her the commonest civility that a stranger extends toa lac gt vext him, On the afternoon of Sunday, the 4th day of September last, } «es awakened by sbrieks, and sounds resembling blow: which sounds vase fresh MMse, “Morgan's vom. “i evaid come to no other conclusion but that Mr. Morgan was beating bis wife, as he voice was loud and threatenin; The same evening I saw Mrs. Morgan, when she hi bruises o + the forehead and cheeks, which indicated thi great vio'ence bad been used upon her. When I weat to my reom for pegs of Roel that eveniag. I was bud lar socn alarmed by loud and abusive language, which was by Mr. Morgan addressed to hiv wife. He threatensd to lock her up’ tare fiom receiving letvere from her ned to chastise h to which she rep! Iready chastised n to which he made no reply. He forbade her having acy intercourse with Mrs. Utie, when she anawered: * You bave po right to forbid my speaking to one who has always been « hind friend and why acted sokindly during wy late illness,” aluding, as I supposed, to her then recent confinement. Mr. Morgan repeatedly geve his wife the lie, and ured to bir wife gross and insulting language during the whole conversation, GRACE BARCLAY. Stole of Maryland, City of Baltinvne—Bahimore, Nov. 11, 1654.—Then came the above named Mra. Grace Bar- clay, ard after being duly cautioned a: d eolemnly sworn to tentify the trath, the whole trath and rcthing but the truth, and being then examined gave the before written ceposition, which was by me recuced to witing in her presence, an¢ by ber rub-cribad to im my presence The adverre party van not present the oaptio wan he notitied to te present, ‘he placs of the teking of the rame being moe than ® hacdred mi'es from tho of the sitiing of the court where this « eposition is to he urec, ‘Taken at the request of the plain iff, to be used in en action of trespacs per ding in tne Court of Com won Pleas of the State of Rhoce (sland, within and for the county of Newport, next to be holden at Newport on the fourth Mcnday of Nevember instant, in which Isaac 8. Hone is plaintiff and William R. Morgan defendant, Taken before me a commissioner for the State of Rhode Island, practising and resi ing st Baltimore, in the State of Meryland, the day and year aforesald. [Seal] Ia testimony whersof I have hereunto sub- scribed my name and effixed my seal of office as commia- sioner af resnid. JAMES B, LATIMER, Commissioner. AFFIDAVIT OF MARTHA C. OTIS. I, Martha C Otis, now residing in Newport, of lawfal age, on rolemn oath do declare and ray, in answer to the following interrogatories:— Interrogstory 1.—Are you acquainted with William R. Morgan and his wife, Maria Louisa Mo-gan; and if no, how long have you known taem? Aus —I am acquainted with them both. Ihave known Mra Morgan for t ears; she was a child when I first knew her—the com; ico anc pleymate of my daughter; I was always intimate with the Selden fan ily, according to my best judgm: Mrs. Morgan is from twenty-six to twenty eight yeara age; I have known Mr. Morgan slightly; I was intreduoed to bim about three months after their marri days fi apy preparations for her ; they we! Iwas with ber during that time, an er that the child was born; I was with her from 2 A.M, till 10 A. M.; there were two telegraph messages sent to Mr. Morgan, one when Mce. Morgan was ill in the morning, telling») im to send the nurse, the other inform- ing of the birth of the child; the messages ware sent be- tween reven and ten in the morning; an auswer was re- ceived from Mr Morgan about oe. M, informing us that he would come in the morning ani bring the nurse; Mr. Morgan arriveé at two in the morning with the nurse: Lwas constantly with Mrs. Morgan during her illness, and Mr. Morgen never came into the room; w! Twas if any mesrages were sent to Mr Morgan, they were sent through the nurse; there was no other communication except in that way to my knowledge; Mr. Morgan s¢nt 20 communications or inquired after her to my knowledge; when she came down she rat at the public table at te Touro House beside Mr. Morgan; their child sat between them; Mr. Morgan never offered any delicacies to his wife Lle, or showeé her any attention; he sonstantly of- fered them to hia child; I noticed this coldness an: glect; this was not occasional, but constant; the last fort- bel ng T caw but little of Mrs. Morgan, becsuse I was fore bidden io enter her room, and she was for ridden to eater wine. by Mr. Morgan; on’ Sunday, after dinner, Mra. De- ens rushed in and told me that Mr. Morgan was beat his wife, and Mra Douglass had rent for me; I went to ra. Morgan’s rocm and opened the door; Mra. Morgaa me: bied; I did not enter the room because I was forbidden. Lig art dupes 1 notice whether there wee bruises upon the of Mis. Morgan? and, if so, please deseribe them? (Odjected to as leading by Mr. Cranston.) Ans.--I saw one above the eye. and the other below the eye, on the side of the nose; the bruises were black whem I raw them; they looked as a biuise always does, black and purple. Interrogatory 4.—Was the confinement of Mrs. Morgam in regular course or unexpected? Ans.—It was a woek before she expected it. Interrogatory 6,—Do you know anything in the conduct of Mrs. Morgan to justily cold, uokind or neglect/(ul treat- ment to her by ¥r Morgan? Ans —I do not; her general ocnduct has been agreeable, amiable and unexcept e as any other lady; 1 have never kmown of her coiag any- thing wrong. s Intenogatory 6 —State what you know, if anything, im relation to any restraint which may have besa put on her personal liberty by Mr. Morgan, either by locking her door or otherwise? “Avs —I saw rothing myself, except that Mr. Morgan eat in the rocm all day except when the nurse was there, which was nit his usual habit; Mrs. Morgan came out of the room only tw ce she had her se- cond child, and the other time she had her older one; the day after the difficulty, I sent to ask my niece, Mra. Hay- wood, if] might speak to Mrs. Morzan; she crossed the piazza to Mrs. Morgan, and asked her if I might; she shook her head; I cid not kno# where Mr. Morgan was at ° that tine, he had yalked out with a gentleman; I wish te aay that Ihave tlways treated Mr. Morgan, his wife and children, with the utmost kinonees, and have always wished to conciliate him; I wrote a letter to Mr. Mor the morning after the birth of hia child, informing him of it; do not know as he ever received it; he has never ae- knowledged it, even by a ‘thank you;” since Mr Morgan forbid me to enter his wife’s room I have never entered it, aud have bad but little intercoarse with her since, ex- cept a few passing words; I have been to Mrs. Morgan’s bedroom door aud to the nurrery door to inquire after the chilérea. Interrogatory 7—Did Mr Morgan ever mate any ac- knowleégment to you for your.kindness to his wife in her sickness? Ans.—Never; he never poke to me first, I al ‘ways spoke to bim fi tSigned) M.C OTI3, And duly sworn to before © WILLIAM GILPIN, Justice of the Peace, AFFIDAVIT OP MARIE PUSOIN, THE FRENCH NURSE [Translation from the French.) I, Marie Pusoin, now a resident of the city of Newport, in the county of Newport, of lawful age, on solemn oath do cepose and say, in anewer to the following interro- gatories:— Tnterrogatory 1.—Do you know William R. Morgan and bis wife, Maria Louisa organ and if so, how long have you known them? Ans.—I know them, and have known them fifteen months Joterrogatory 2.—State whether or not you have re sided in their family; and if 60, when, wuere, how long, and in what capacity. Ans.—I have lived with them for the last fifteen months; I have been child’s maid for the last fifteen months, at Paris and in this country; the family came from Paris, und arrived in New Orleans oa the 16th day of November last, and remaiuad there until the 18th of May; the family went from New O:leans te West Point, and remained at Weat Point a month; came from there to this place. Interrogatory 3.—Were you in their family during the afternoon of Sunday, the 4th day of this month? and i 80 state, if you know, what was the treatmoat by Mr. Morgan of his wife upon that occasion; state what he did aud what he said. Ans.—I wasin their funily on that day; Mr. and Mra. Morgan had an altercation togather; I was not in the room; Mré. Morgan came int» iny rvom and ssid—‘‘See what a condition Iam in” Interrogatory 4 Seige hear anything «f the alteroa- tion? and if so, what did you hear. Ans —1 heard, bat understood nothing. Whom did you hea’ dii yea know the voice of the person whom you heard? I heard the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. Interrogatory §.—Did you hesr anything that was sald by either of them? if so, state what jou heard raid? Ams, —I ¢id not bear or understand # word that was raid. Interrogatory 6.—What was the condition of Mra. Mor- gan when she called your attention to her condition? Ans.--She two marks on ker forehead; one in the middle of the forehead, and the other over there was a dark mark anda scratch ; the one in middle of the forehead was scarcely perceptible, the other was larger, not so lon¢ aa my finger nail Interrogatory 7.—When did you ave her next before she came to you after the altercation? Had the marks u her face at that time? Ans —I saw her just before the alt rcatinr?; sbe had no marks upon her. —Is the mark now visible upop the fore- ‘an; the one to which you refar? Ans.— cette 8 head of Mrs. Mo: The mark which I now see on the forehead of Mrs. Morgan is the one to which I referred. [N. B —The witness at first replied to this interrsgatory that she did not know that there was now any mark om the forehead of Mra. Morgan. Mra. Morgan and the de- ponent went to the window together, and af-er the depon- ent had examined the face of Mer. Morgan, gave the am- twer aa is recorded in the last interrogatory. Interrogatory 9 —Sta'e whether or not you heard Mes. Morgan seream before she came to you, and while the sl- tercation was going on? if ao, state whether or not the scream indicated distress. Ans—I did mot hear any scream. Interrogatory 10.~-Was Mr, Morgan ia the room when you left it previous tothe altercation? Ans.—I was im my robm at that time; Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were in their room alone ; the rooms join eash other, sad communl- cate with each other. lnterrogatory 11.—While you were at the Truro House did Mr. Morgan give you any directions as te what an- swer you should give any lady who might call upon Mrs, Morgan! and if so, state what. Ans.—Mr. Morgan gave me no directions to answer avy lady who might eye; the Mrs. Morgan; Mr. Morgan forbid Mrs. Morgan to recsive any letters until,be had first seen thom, and forbid me to tak letters trom Mrs. Morgan to the Post Office until a Brat sen thank k hoather Me, 1d interrogatory 12—Do you know whether Mr. Morg afer the altercation about which you have testified, eet bid ap 4 lacy from en‘ering Mrs. Morgan’s room? if so, state what you know about it. Ans.—After the dispute, Mr. Morgan forbid me to admit Mrs Otis’ family to Mra, wimerroge‘ory 18 —Did you h ming issuing pterroga'oi —Did you hear no screa from Mra. Morgan's room atany tine during the afternoon when the altercation washad? Ans.—I heard no screams; I beard them + peaking, but heard nothiog distinatly. Interrogatory 14.—Do you know whether or not Mr. Morgan, at any time, fastened the door of Mrs. Morgan’ room, or locked her up inter room, or otherwise re- strained her of her liberty? and if so, atate all you know about it. Ans —There were two doors that opened into the rcom; Mr. Morgan locked the one that opened inte the entry, but did not lock the door that opened into }oom; Mrs. Morgan cou’d only get out by goiag thro my room. interrogatory 16,—For what reason did Mr. Morgen lock: tbe door that opened to the entry? Ans.—1 do not knew. Interrogatery 15,—State whether or not you bave ‘nown Mr Morgan to treat his wife unin ily at other times, and if ro, atate what you know about it Aas— I have never known anything of the kind except on that occasion. Interrog story 17.— How long after the birth of their in- fant ron was it that Mr. Morgan returned to Newport, and bow long bar it been since his return; how many times have you known Mr. Morgan to speak to Mrs Morgan since then? Ans.—Mr. Morgan returned to New, one day after the birth of the infant; the child was born oa Wedneeday ‘and Mr. Morgan returned on Thursday; It le reven weeks since be returned; he has not spoken to her since the bir b of the child. —Did Mr. Mo: when he firstem- - room, after the birth of the ohid, in July last he infant in his arms speak to bia wife or show her any signs of tenderness? Ans.—Mr. Morgan did nogenter into his wife’s room after the birth of the childon the day of his arrival; the second after bis arrival he took the child in hisarms but did epeak to bin wife. Interroga‘ory 19.—Did he at any time enter the room after her confinement, during hor sickness, if ofter? Ans.—He did not gointo her room at all aitee her confinement or during sickness, ory 20,— War the accouchment of Mrs. Mor- d, or didtt ocour at the expected time? Mr. Morgan been away from Newport whem the child was born? Ans.—I co not bnow whother the accouchmen: was or was not expected. Mr. Morgan wont away on Mondny, and the child was born on Weane: Iaterrogator7 21 —Do you deslare that during the fereation op Sunday last you did not hear Mrs, scream, or utter any sound indicating that she was in ain? Ana —I hi v any sound indi rat pia ate re Male posuie. Newrort sa—Newport, St, Oth, 1853.—Thom per se- nei appesred before me the above named Marie Pusoii end after boing examined, cautioned, and sworn to the truth, the whole trath, and nothicg but the trath, ergs the foregoing deposition, which was by mo “poe tad by her signed in my prerencs, Takgn at the requ