THE CRAWFORD-DILKE DIVORCE CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2258, 31 March 1886, Page 2

THE CRAWFORD-DILKE DIVORCE CASE.

[' '"■" "'-" '""pliiL" REPORT. ..'.., '■ ,:., . ,„, [for Mail Steamer.]. ; . ! (United Pkess Association.) ', ;; ' .The case -Crawford v. : Crawford■ and :' DUke' was commenced in'the Divorce;. '■• iDivisiononß'ebuaiyKfch,' before Mr Justice Butt, without a jury. The petition ! ,was.that qf Donald Crawford;. M.P.,': fordissolution of marriage by, reason ...of alleged adultry of his wife, Mrs Virginia •Mary Crawford, with-the'-co-respondent, ... Sir Charles ffien.twqrth.DHke, Bart,, .M.; P. Answers wero filed denying the charge. .Long before .the opening of the Court, a large crowd had aisembled at the Strand, entrance, and when the dborp ;tyerV unbarred there was a great rush, 'and soon the pall building was paoked, in every parti'!'At'-twenty 'minute 'past'"ten; Sir Charles Dilko oamei into/'pie. Court, and occupied a mi 'at We solicitors' table. 'Shortly before 10.30,. MrsAshton-Dilke,-accompanied by Mr- . .Ge'orge. Lewis, cameinto Court* being fol- 1 lowed by Mr Joseph Chamberlain; M.-P. Mr Inderwick, Q,0., in opening the case,, said that the petitioner was member'' U Parliament for North-Easfc Lancashire, and during the last Liberals tion OjCcupiedjthe post-, of ;Lqgal Secretary; " t'd'-the' Lord 1 Advobatfe '.of ; Scotland';'' : Tlio respondent was the daughter of Mr Eustace Smith, a gentleman of fortune in the ■ North of England, and for some years, member of Parliament for Tyhemouth. •' When in London he lived in Princes Gate. The, parties were married on 2frih. July, 1881 V in' London. 1 - l The' ; lady at the' time was under age, while thei petitioner] ■to ™imrl fti SFiM

together until the separation, which took place in July last year. •He then went over the eyijence intended, to be brought forWd, ancf mitcludybKSjiyiiig that, an redded Sir* was bound to ; -sa ; y .there 1 W'rid but, Mrr/Oriiwlbri, {Key :wa6Vnone/-'ali'd he was bound;to make :hitotia; lb-respondent unless ,116 (Dilke} ;was ft feigner and "out of thei Mr P.onald ; orawfoi'dj Wright,;' '6aii^y;ara ( this case, arid was in ding presenti. i ,Th§ resident; is somewhat younger Hi an ram, In tho autumn of 18841 lived in Young-StreeVirjd.after >., On my arrival in town. lj«ed toj-jO-occas- f. *"■ ionallyitfo2fie(Miie-(3hi4e/ ofloviere I / received an anonymous _lett.er. jjji one divorced from her would she be able to keep her own money. I told her that I would not touch it. I noticed that she was less affectionate towards mo. Hor manner was cold and reserved. She asked me to ; send her away, and said that she could horsclf. In regard to the anonymous letter, it was written in a disguised hand, but the address on the enve-' lope was in the handwriting of an illiterate person. It began by warning mo, and spoke t of a certain lady who, the writer said, was a very bad companion for my wife, and that they were carrying on flirtations with the students at St %orge's Hospital' This la(ly was attetjflinitfJi .relation $ her's prfi. .TheJaj|,|Bj< graph of the letter was as follows: " Beware of the member for Chelsea.'." ,I. r showed, ...it Jo her. She looked../' ' 'at; ./it; j -for fV a, very long tinf', M AM feme-very pale. It gave n\ s 'jH an uncomfortable feeling of misgiving. 'I iwjf said to her, "Is there anything in tho "* letter!" She paused a little and said "No.", She said, "Donald, do jtm believe there is a scrap of truth in that 1 )" 1 said, " No, as you tell me there is not." Sho;aß]jed"nio'"if ,'s)ie; 'cb'ul'd f d,estroy the lfsttbr Jrjdl gut it/in her.' After that 1 sp*oke to her in a chaffingmamiftr about the member for Chelsea, and on one occasion T observed she rather winced I discovered after that Bhe, had received a letter from Captain Forstor. ■ lb was after the Whitsuntide holidays" in 1884 that the letter arrived. Captain Forstor first made the acquaintance of Mrs Crawford at a fancy ball in 1884. I also received an anonymous letter. It was to 'the following effect.: —"The first person who rijlned your wjifo is Sir Charles Dilko. •She'is well-kiiowi-to his servants," I showed the respondent the letter. She colored up and said, "That's from mother. ■That woman is a fiend." She afterwards ■■siiid. " I must write to Sir Charles Di)M," lsaid she ought not to do so. Sluwpin said, "I cannot see Jvim after this." t said " You don't see him as it is." She said, " If his carriage came to the door, mother would be suio to begin talking." 1 said ± it was not right of her to suspect \wf mother of such an infamous thing, and A.,that without good evidence. She said her mother hated'anyotfewhcrlilvEd Sir' Charles Dilko. I met Sir Charles Dilke Mr Butts: "That was after you ro(oeivedvt]ie>lettertf V^pl/Petitioner: "Yes/ 1 livid : I never saw a man look so ghastly. The following day 1 was coming out of my office;, and 1" saw him coming out of his carriage. Wanting to speak to him . .ab'dilti/lsp^^^sniesPhe l again started ■violently,'a'hd- got very pale and livid, ' bUtildt''sa , bad l as , tAS ; firß , t'ti'ni'o. s lPWhen I ' went homo I said to my wifo, " Did you ■ .write.toJSir.Charles Dilk about thafr anonymous'lctter?" She said "No,idid not." Then'l said to her" Did you tell Mrs, said " Yes." saw a.man look so ghastly." About the IOHiJMy I received another anonymous letter;- It was as follows:—Your wife was seen at the Metropolitan with ..Captain Foster, on Monday. Arelyou a Unasked heiMf-it wastrueAarfshfe-dyod* On the night ( of Friday, the 7th of July, I { iwmet'homVabout half-past eloven. MjflA Crawford had gone to bed. When I upstairs I found her awake. She said,'i'' " Did you got the letter waiting for you ?" I said "Yes.", ...She asked me if I would tell her'what; was jiii.it. I told hor the Substance ,of; the-jetter, She got up, struck a'ligh!,Tnd"Bfol)d by the bedside looking at me. Isaid, "Virginia, is it true that you have been unfaithful? 1 have been a faithful husband to you," ."She said, " fiJSss'lsliuo. It is timoyou -should know the%ufch; you have always been on tho wrong track suspecting the jnrio.cent,(ahd you have never suspected the perion who was guilty." And what else did she say,? Sho said it was not Captain Foster. "Theman who ruined me was Charles Dilke," She said: "He seduced me six weeks_after marriage, three years and a half ago, arid'T'liavo been his mistress- : .eyer" :: after." \ wai astj}hish.ed;\and ; years jftgol" f and slie replie'df;-" Three years and a |ttlf," < on dier at madoJove hTO nothing fiore took place:then. that he . had taken'"ji|r in Totten-V ham;!. Court ;r,old|ltfir"llad seducedihop I would JtgrW and she replied, '/' You' will have ample revenge upon hinfc If he«ame into the room just now," she added, "I beliove he could do; f as he pleased.with mo, and that he would like tVahooi mo if he could." I Bpoke about corrdboMtiVo'eVidenee, and sho said she would give me tho means of proving it. She to the servants at both jhousei V" YoV .continued tpHu[e']with , .•hettheftf as the charge against Captain Foster ms nol.prqved..■ She gave me to that the.intrjgue had gono on regularly while we were in London. She alsoisaid that hehad taugl).t : .lief a)l»telfeiW:'She toldra6thafe;he''ja'iijieUo6l}«ia fajicj to herb.ecaus,e.she..;w4M.q;;likßjjiej;|<raoiljer. I asked her if she had been guilty with any otlie'rmanil'andlsholoreplieflii'uNo; I have, been, tab familiar with another manj and other merit butl noth^g^i&js," 1 pressed.herito.knoir.ifjshejiad cnlßiheen guilty.wjtb.JMr : it solemnly. Oross-exainin<itionj c^yitiqaed: She further .told me :i tjiat. ahe o ha£ L Sir: Charles"only fliree'timeV in 1880. I | reminded her of the anonymous lettericA ' 1885 on my return to Scotland.. I .for.jap_era,;and; (Kg for : 1882 there was ah e'nti , y'on,J|e i bj , ijiarY 13th, " Go to London ;" on February 20, "Go to Sydney Place;" on the 83rd, there-.-ris; an entry in faint pencil, *&s&?' Mr Wright: "In whose writing are these entriss ?"„, " Itj my wife's/> r , iln ' .thoM iiarjf. i ,'fbr/iIBB3, there,-was an entry, on February 42th,' 1, 1-go to London.' She went up to the midence we had taken before I did,- on.the 14th.;-: Pieroi-.waatijn entry, "P qomes.to.London'i" l<Dndon /.by .".the night mail by' tho Great Jforthern Railway. When I arrived at ■home 1 saw my wife. She said she waa tired. I arrived about half-past 9. 1 did nptajikher jifhere- sho, hadibpieU,'|}» jHlid not know until slietold jne'onthe im.oi JulyiU spoke about, jf ' the beginning, of the session 'saidj ■"■ The two jiights L hef6Ve yolPiawe I Bhe,said:she,returned hp,me f ,ajv4,,in4ho, morrfin^>nd'tne:sk^a^Mf-pM|i|. ! ; went to aress'feg'-rooniiiili tiififht:,(there.) L,heard!.Ml;s ß Sras*^^^' , sobbmg in her bed-room. , F after that fuirymm lasxT.Mu noif

had other conversations with her, diirim one of which she said, " wlien you arc dead T shall spend my time in putting on jour grave." I said. •'" j™.wentdp me much/good;" A'ftbi ldreWil ca no into tho-room. 1 askee' Wa'.'how aliovit Captiiin'fostcr. She said „. had-alwiys treated her as a lady, bui .surr-yjlhp!was-iiut-horlavor. • Ilaskedilio if.-Ik • •™ :: --'«wwa8'so,- Shosiiid ut said tiw ."she supposed she should not; a6'' ! ifali;;ine ■m: '.. it i'Scotland;' I said I. ; woilldyl'\vhethci _-"'-.. 8h0 . c ! ,u!(1 m^n to-WfatMfctof intWa Frciicli cpnyont; but she declined that. I, .'asked her if sh'o \hi prepared-to .JlLTjillVe.'Mr.-•statdniAkeKt' -Wit-tell l 'down; l.'iSho ,'said! that-'would''-dcbe-lid upon wlio ■coryatook.'ftduwii... Isi\id'Stowiirf <\4ulcl.bo v\ (.f.',:niy:;Jawyor,.' She ■'■said I shvi ( 'would 'iib't g& like to do it witli him. She liowever said i Would ■ be ready• to"roportit at tho

»y.r. -proper time, iasked her for my motli'or's she returned it to : iiiti.' jf ';l a-.ked 16 f.i.v.flor.abonttlio : statemorit,'and she'.said she, u'.ov,- fl'o'uld adhero to it, I-mis awifreltliiit Isi-wSii Sir C;iDi)ke only once -visited iliy'"- house!' MrLockwod, Q C.: "•I.as^the-V.itiiess" ho questions." - Tho Attorney General,;, oiiil--. For reasons thatybur loniMiip : \Viil appre--ciato, I .will ask.your Lordship's permission, to postpono iny-cross-exainiiiation., : 'J'lie ! .v(itaJomott[j|.:niado. aro v a?aiiis(r'iflio lady, : but not against Sir C. Dilko." Mr ;fifs- r tice Butfci:::" I; do riot ■ reccolect at .this f:',|'J: moment a bit of evidence against_ Sif'C', Dilke.;.l think it. is a reasonable apjili 1 - cation.'"' "Mr' Justice Butt addc4 : tl^. liO i'ithe' case- was one in which' the" Court Hv'lis •''■'.'jaked to. find respoiident'giiilty of adul'tfry with.the co-respondent, and at the t _ Mne'tiin'o to dismiss tJie'c;ise against -the ■ l \.°'y Cb'-resppiident. ,-;!jLliat.com^'dia'noticem '';, 1 ;i'|t Mtjcason'ablo, but there wasnothing. , t/.' ui )ncpnsbiaijt,. ...ln.this, casoihero^was/a' i., 'deal of : evidence ■ ■ , .'against ; .';ijhe'. : re's-;, ! y'/- ;ipolideiit' ,;: beyond;'::Jier;i';Awii;;:;::>tat'e^ ; ments arid' a i di,iiissibn8 l :i-:, : j , cleari distinct, and circuiiistai'it'ial.'':■■ Tliatv'' : : '"' " b^ingso,.hewould:graut : a::decrce^pr;.t|iep ; j-'i •.,,relief -for which.. 11 r Crawford • : .pji ; ay v eil,; ■ i; .siisV. There ivas ho evidence against'Sir'Gliaries:;. n . Dilke.,.The law was cieaivoii'tlio-subject.; i " that'tW unsworn statement;pfMr)i;Ci : -i*Y' $ fprd,was.not .entitled.tii be ,receiye(l}oi(:.'. h, considered against, !i;;perspn;;wfth^vii()nv ;: S ,l!'Sl ;ww':allegcd ' to , i g 'adultery. .' It would ■; boViiinnstrpus 1 "if ;:a?' Q shoiild be that:: i;.;;;;;liaturc on. tlio'stateinent;ii:^ : a; ; poi'soii;jint': is- : '-on'oatli; the truth.bf^vlibsb/stor^lieihtul"'; I!: _ no opportunity of""testing. 1 '.-by.^crosfe v :/\ ■■'■ examination. If Mrs Crawford'Mul'cbine'.•' ■.y.;,;. .into, the witness-box''iind-.'sworii to .the'.;.' statement, ,;fehat - \rould'; Jjavo;y.boen':'ifocrd : K, : . evidpnep against .Sir ''■ j [,'&ei\ he "would have«had;an;oppOTtunity;! \ j , «" 1 "' i6f' testing "her" state of.;niin'd;,:wlie'n : -.tliai ; : ;,- allegations, were ShdU miglib "ibeK; '.'- to 'shield someone':elae. : »"iHe:-? ." ' i'i'w ■ n "'" t^ltat '°" whatever;" in'disniiss : 'iiig : :.' JJJJ We l>etitioii against v Sir" ; Cliarles^p'ilke,:''/ "fritliilbsts.'! ;He.'would' ; ;gr(mt|l& : : Ci|^^ v ( ford, a. decfed 'ni«i, ■'■ aiid : ;tho=UßUui|irder : ' lisi; ;"■ "-'to 1 the wife's costs,. ,-L V'--<--'^l^:,-1. ! VJ