The Recent Diverce Case.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1633, 9 March 1886, Page 4

The Recent Diverce Case.

CRAWFORD V. CRAWFORD AND dilke. v, : : ;

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION j - - x.' ... '■.'. ;,!•>• >; ; London, Feb. 13. j Th'e trial of the divorce case, Donald Crawford' against hiswife and Sir tJliarlea Dilke, co-respondeut, began m 'London on : Febrbarj» 12tli. Tne Court room was crowded. Dilke arrived early, and took hi's seat without being recognised by most of the people present. The case being announcbd, petitioner's cdnncil stated that the first intimation bis client had of his s wife's unfaithfulness was by receipt of . several anonymous letters .the writer of which warned Crawford to beware "'of the member for Ohelsea " (Dilke). On receiving further anonymous letters Crawford taxed his wife with infidelity. She admitted her guilt, and said she had remained two evenings with Dilke. His (DHke's) attention to her, she said, had commenced -directly after her • marriage. He profesaed to admire her because of a resemblance to her mother. The wife of 'petitioner attributed the anonymous letter to the vindictiveness of her mother. Petitioner's- case rested solely on his; ~3i?ife'sconfesßion. Crawford gave testi- /. 4 ,^nony supporting the statements of,' the \ £ v \ counsel. He said he was -startled by; ;%;, ;h'is wife asking him whether he. would forgive her if she had beeD -unfaithful, ; His wife's sister had been shown the anonymous letters, and agreed they 'were m the hand- writing of their ; mother. Council tor petitioner submitted that there was n». case against JDilke. The Court granted Crawford the df voice, arid dismissed the ehar/je ;:'*asainst Sir Charles, Dilke; Although 'Dilke escaped under technical plea, Mrs Crawford's unsworn confession was m•- -• sufficient evideuce. The whole tenor of the trial has -produced, according to a' despatch, profound and universal con-j yiption of "his guilt. Consensus of opinion is that the filthy revelations '.'ih.'ade at the trial, and the failure to at-: tempt either to deny or disprove the charges against him. has practically mined Dilke politically.