THE SUTHERLAND CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 92, 20 April 1893, Page 9

THE SUTHERLAND CASE.

SOME SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES.

London, April 19,

The Duchess of Sutherland swore that the letter which she destroyed was written by the late Duke to herself in i 836, relating partly to an unpleasant occurrence between a steward of the yacht and a maid, and being specially private she thought she was at liberty to destroy it. She believed its presence among the Duke's papeis was accidental, and that it was not included in the order made by ihe Court There was nothing in the letter in reference to herself that she objected to publish.

Mr Justice Jeune said the act was without a parallel, and looked as though it had been deliberately planned. The Duchess had acted with violence and deceit, having apparently concealed the letter in her hand until she had a chance to burn it. He was unable to accept her statement.

The sentence upset the Duchess, who was allowed to go home upon giving an undertaking to surrender herself at Holloway Gaol, where, as a first-class misdemeanant, she will be allowed to furnish her own cell.

Her solicitors hope to obtain a partial remission of the sentence.

It is rumoured that a writ of habeas corpus will be moved for, on the ground that a peeress cannot be arrested in a civil case.