Extraordinary trial! Norton v. Viscount Melbourne, for crim[inal] con[versation] ... A full and accurate report ... / by an eminent reporter ... Embellished with a portrait and memoir of the Hon. Mrs. Norton. &c., &c.

  • George Chapple Norton
Date:
[1836?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Extraordinary trial! Norton v. Viscount Melbourne, for crim[inal] con[versation] ... A full and accurate report ... / by an eminent reporter ... Embellished with a portrait and memoir of the Hon. Mrs. Norton. &c., &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    it would disgrace him if a verdict was found against him, by the suspicion that he connived at his own dishonour. This was the most extraordinary case that ever was brought into a Court of Justice. These parties were married in 1827, and lived happily together till the 29th of March, 1836—no alienation of the affections or seduction of the mind of the wife; and, in his experience, he had always found that this was the inevitable consequence of a breach of the conjugal vow—that a woman who forgot the dutes of a wife, forgot those of a mother. On the contrary, Mrs. Norton, down to that period, was fondly attached to her children ; and as the witness had stated, when she found she was almost deprived of her children, she wa3 deprived of her reason, and was in a state bordering on distraction. In the history of such cases the parties had generally lived happily until the paramour had been intro¬ duced, and then the affections of the wife had been grad* ually weaned from her husband and children, and she for¬ got all her domestic duties, which ended in a discovery of her infidelity and separation. Was there any single cir¬ cumstance in the present case like that picture! No, all was uninterrupted harmony according to the evidence, except that of the infamous witness Ninette Elliot, which was contrary to the whole tenor of the case, as well as the opening of his learned Friend. There was no suspicion of -any impropriety by Mr. Norton in Lord Melbourne's visits ; on the contrary, he approved of them. That was another feature of suspicion, and shewed them that the present was like every other case. It shewed that Mr. Nor¬ ton was under some delusion, that his mind was poisoned, and that he had been made the tool of others, he would not say from personal but from political motives, by which the present action was commenced and supported. He cared not for the political sentiments of those he addressed—he would as soon have twelve political opponents as twelve supporters of his noble client, as he was sure they would do justice to both parties. There was left on the Jury the leader of the political party opposed to his client, but he would have as soon seen Sir Robert Peel in that box as any other gentleman ; and neither Lord Melbournenor those who advised him, ever thought of objecting to that gentleman. He felt he was addressing 12honest, independentmen, hecared not what their political bias might be, as he was satisfied they
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