Terror, Tears & Tragedy – The Mount Cashells and the Notorious Divorce Case of 1876
Noel Howard
Terror, Tears & Tragedy – The Mount Cashells and the Notorious Divorce Case of 1876
by Noel Howard
The most sensational divorce case of the 19th century is the centrepiece of this story of the Mount Cashell family. In the summer of 1876,on the grounds of adultery and cruelty, Captain Richard Spread Morgan, “Lord of the Manor of Bridestown” Co. Cork sought a divorce from his wife, Lady Catherine Louisa Moore, the youngest daughter of the 3rd Earl of Mount Cashell of Moore Park House, Kilworth, Co. Cork.
The case was tried in Dublin with Catherine Louisa the only woman in a courtroom crowded with “gentlemen” and her only support was her aged father who had left his dying wife behind in Moore Park. She died the day after her daughter’s trial ended.
Some of Ireland’s most distinguished lawyers were on either side and Louisa was cross examined “with a ruthless brutality…never displayed before.” Her husband’s incredible claims were countered by some equally unbelievable from his wife.
The trial played out before a voracious public and the court heard that newspapers were being hidden from females in rural Ireland because of the graphic details outlined daily.
The story references the position of women in Ireland at the time and their second class status when it came to seeking a divorce. Among a number of other famous cases of the 19th century, the Mount Cashell case highlighted the discriminatory nature of the law where women were concerned and the case was one that further helped the slow advance women’s rights.
Terror, Tears and Tragedy is a story of taboos, family, class, money, power and religion. At times it defies belief.
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3 reviews for Terror, Tears & Tragedy – The Mount Cashells and the Notorious Divorce Case of 1876
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Caroline Fiedler (verified owner) –
Meticulously researched and skillfully told, this is not only an exciting read but also a spotlight on an era, which can help us appreciate how far we have come in terms of women’s right and dismantling the class system.
I was particularly interested in this book because of a family connection to the Yelverton divorce case mentioned here.
Marie Campion (verified owner) –
As someone who loves historical books, I found this story very enjoyable and interesting.
This book shows how much better things become in our times. Photos give us a window into the lives of those involved.
I would highly recommend it.
Lucy Weir (verified owner) –
This riveting read is a beautifully set out account of the harrowing divorce case between Louisa Moore and Richard Spread Morgan. Louisa, the youngest daughter of the third Earl Mount Cashell and his Swiss wife, was brought up in Moore Park, which was carelessly burned to the ground during its occupation by the British army in 1908. The story of the divorce in the Dublin Matrimonial Court provides a fascinating insight into a time in history when women’s rights were precarious at best, but shows that the challenge to convention by a singularly independent woman contributed to shifting the balance. So much rested on this case, and it’s a real pleasure to read historian Noel Howard’s carefully collated account of the case, and of the context before and after, which gives a real sense of how pivotal this action was for the family, and for the wider acceptance of the rights of women.