DIVORCE CASE IN HIGH LIFE

Kumara Times, Issue 1033, 23 January 1880, Page 4

DIVORCE CASE IN HIGH LIFE

Sir Robert Phillimore, the second judge in the Divorce Court, tried recently a petition presented by the wife for the dissolution of her marriage on the ground of the misconduct of her husband, the Hon Robert Wellington StapletonCotton, eldest son and heir of Lord Combermere. The Hon. Mrs Colton said—l was married at St. Mark's Church Bryanston square, on the 2nd of June, 3866, to the Hon. Robert Wellington Stapleton-Cotton, eldest son of Lord Combermere, and had a large fortune. I had pin-money of L4OOO per annum, L 30,000 being settled on the respondent. About 1870 we became acquainted with Mr and Mrs Poole residing at Marbury Hall, Cheshire. We afterwards visited them. I saw that my husband paid a great deal of attention to Mrs Poole, and I remonstrated with him ; but I could get no answer as to his conduct. In 1876 1 was at Park Hall. On Friday, the 21st of April of last year, there were some races which I and the respondent and Mr and Mrs Poole attended. On the folio(viug moraine;, Saturday, the 22nd, Mr Cotton left Park Hall without saying where he was going. I went away for a few days, and on my return I received the following letter from my husband: " I have behaved to you as badly as a.man can well do. By the time you receive this I shall be far away with another woman. You may blame me, but you must own we were m # suited to'each other. Forget me if you can and think of me as never having belonged to you. It will be no use in trying to make us go back, as nothing will eve£ make us retract from the step we haver taken. If you can be kind to my brother and sister as regards the allowance they have had from me I implore you to do so." He has never written to me, nor returned since that time. I have had my pin-money, and the respondent has received the remainder of my income of L 30.000 a year. Major Dickson, M P., said he was acquainted with the respondent, but not with the petitioner. He knew Mrs Poole, who was sister to the present Sir George Chetwynd, Bart. He heard of the elopement, and had endeavored on several occasions to induce Mrs Poole to return home. The respondent and Mrs Poole were now living at West Moulsey as man and wife. He had an interview with Mr Cotton at that place in April, when he assured him he would never desert Mrs Poole. Sir R. Phillimore made a deoree nisi with costs. Dr Tristram said on a future occasions he should have to make an application with regard to the marriage settlements in the case.