A MOST ROMANTIC LAW SUIT.

Evening Star, Issue 2912, 19 June 1872, Page 3

A MOST ROMANTIC LAW SUIT.

A case of most remarkable character has just been tried in the Rockhampton sittings of the Queensland Supreme Court, which is remarkable even in these days, when extraordinary law cases are becoming quite common. In this case John Rose Brandon brought an action of ejectment against the occupants of some land in East street, Rockhampton, which he claimed as the property of his wife, being inherited by her from her father, George Quigley, otherwise George Harris de Rusett. The defendants to the action, the occupants of the ground, merely claimed under a possessory title, so that the case wholly turned on the ability of the plaintiffs to make out their claim. Their case was, that Quigley deserted his wife in 1822, and went to India, where he engaged in the service of the King of Oude, his duties being to look after the royal wardrobe, and trim the kingly beard. He assumed the name of de Russett, and was first known by Brandon under that name. Brandon was aide-de-camp to the King, and besides his pay of 500 rupees a month, was allowed twenty-four bearers and five horses —in addition to which he kept fifteen servants, He, many years later, married a daughter of De Russett, and afterwards learned from her that their name was really Quigley. Some time after, returning to England with her husband and father, in the suite of the Queen Dowager of Oude, Mrs Brandon went to see an oid aunt, and was recognised by a mark on her neck, on seeing which the aunt exclaimed, “ Yes, it is little Mary J ” She then asked where her mother was buried, and was surprised to learn that her father was yet alive in Northamptonshire, under the name of Jennison. About the same time her father married again, and his new wife taunted Mrs Brandon with being illegitimate. This annoyed her father and husband ; and to put the matter beyond doubt, the question was investigated and statutary declarations were obtained, which thorouohlv established her legitimacy, On this, the relatives of De Russctt’s wife threatened tQ prosecute him for bigamy, and to avoid this he came to New Zealand, subsequently going to Queensland, and purchag.

ng the property forming the matter of the action. He also went to India with Brandon to prefer a claim against the Indian Government, for compensation, which was granted. De' Russett and his first wife had since (lied, and Brandon now sought to recover the property as having fallen to his wife as the sole heir to De Russett. There was, indeed, a son left in India, but he had disappeared for years, and there seemed to be no doubt that he had been killed in the Cawnpore massacre. The case was most intricate and complicated, and involved matters of a very curious nature, but after three days' hearing, the jury considered that the claim was substantiated, and gave a verdict for the plaintiff.