A CRICKETERS DIVORCE SUIT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1084, 17 March 1883, Page 1

A CRICKETERS DIVORCE SUIT.

In the Divorce Division on 21st December, Sir James Hannon had before him the case of Scotton V; Scotton, which was a suit for a dissolution of the petitioner’s marriage with her husband, William Henry Scotton, a professional cricketer, and proprietor of the Boat Inn, at Beeston, near Nottingham. There was no defence. Mr R, A. Gillespie, in opening the case, said the parties were married in 1877- About three months after the marriage respondent appeared to have beaten his wife, and in June, 1878, when she was near her confinement be assaulted her in such a way that he caused her great pain, and made her extremely ill. In September following she separated from him, and went to live in Lamcotos street, Nottingham. The respondent joined her afterwards, and some improvement in his conduct took place. He afterwards commenced his illtreatment, and both blackened and bunged up her eyes. On a Saturday, in A« S uot, 1880. the respondent again violently ttaa<iUlt6(l Ifi® "pm 1 in left’ to fulfil a professional engagement at Cheltenham. Before leaving, he said if he found her in the house on his return he would kick her out. There was only one act of adultery charged, and that was alleged to have taken place on the 13th of December, 1880, the petitioner only recently becoming aware of the fact, and the respondent having since been on Australian tours. Mrs Ana Scotton, the petitioner, was then examined, and corroborated the opening statement. Robert William Hamming, of Nottingham, said he was employed by plaintiffs solicitor to serve the citation on the respondent. He served it on the 10th of October .last at Beeston. He said it was quite true about his going with Polly Bennett- to Derby. He and his wife could not agree, so they parted. Mrs Mary Ann Jane Kerr, a milliner, said she knew the respondent. On the 13th December, 1880, she was staying with her husband at a refreshment house at Derby. The respondent also stayed there the same evening with a young woman named Mary Bennett Witness’s husband told Mrs Scotton about

this fact. They passed the night together as man and wife. Sir James Hannen ; That is sufficient, i pronounce a decree nisi with costs, and order the petitioner to have custody of the child.