A GIPSY DIVORCE CASE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 117, 24 May 1876, Page 3

A GIPSY DIVORCE CASE.

A ii/theU toman tic case came on for hearing before Sir James Hannon and a common jury in the Divorce Division ol the, High Court of Justice recently.. The petitioner) a solicitor and town clerk of Bridgnorth, had shine years ago takeiia great interest in gipsies, and had written various books about them ; he had also a considerable estate near Bridgnorth, and allowed the gipsies to encamp upon it. Among them was a family named Lock, in whom he took a great interest. In 187U he went to Norway with two of these gipsies and their sister named, Esmeralda, a girl about sixteen years of ago, to whom he was married on the 11th of July, 18/4, at a private house in Norway, before, a “ soreenscribcr,” or notary public. The husband and wife returned to Bridgnorth, and at tlm following Christmas the corespondent, then a student at Oxford, who also took a great interest in gipsies, and had thus become acquainted with the petitioner, visited him and the respondent. During the visit the petitioner became suspicions that the co-res-pondent Was paying improper attention to bis wife. .Shortly after the co-respon-dent left, the wife persuaded lior husband that she was being “ overlooked,” or bewitched, and that it was necessary that she should consult a “gnssorec goorgee,” or astrologer, and that she must leave home for this purpose. The gnssorec gorgeo proved to be the co-res-pondent, with whom she lived in adultery on two or three occasions when she absented herself from her husband, the gussorce gorgeo, or co-respondent, writing to her letters with respect to the enchantment which she was to show to her husband. After a time the husband’s suspicions were aroused, and he discovered Upon inquiry that during the absences she lived in adultery with the co-respon-dent at the George Hotel, Bristol, The husband separated from her, instituted a suit for divorce, and went to Spain. Upon receipt of a letter fiom her ho returned and found her living with the co-respondent atEdinburgh, and took her away with him to the Melrose Hotel, Where they stayed the night. The next morning she persuaded her husband that she had had a dream that the co-respond-ent would commit suicide unless she Went to him to say good-bye. The husband allowed her to go and stay two hours* hut she never returned to him, and wont to live with co-respondent as his wife/ The case was not concluded when his lordship adjourned. On Thursday morning Mr Hill intimated that the claim for damages would-be withdrawn, and the petitioner Was not further examined. Evidence was then given by Mr Kirsebon, No. 2, Aldorman’s-walk. to prove that the marriage with Herbert Smith and Esmeralda Lock was good according to the law of Norway. Emma Lander, head chambermaid at the George and Railway Hotel, Bristol, proved that persons resembling the photographs before the Court stayed as tnan and wife at the hotel. Inspector Cole, head constable at Bridgnorth, proved being in receipt of instructions from the petitioner to watch his wife. Ho traced her to Bristol. Zachariah Lock, a brother of the respondent, spoke to finding Groome and his sister at Tyne-strcet, Edinburgh. After this evidence, Mr Stavcley Hill said that he did not propose to carry the case further. His lordship then pointed out that, as there was no cross-examination of the witnesses, the jury had only to find that the respondent and co-respondent had been guilty of the offence imputed to them. The jury then found for the petitioner on the issue submitted to them. * Sir Janies Hannen granted a decree nisi for a divorce, with costs.