The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-04-20 00:00:00

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S

SISTER.

BROOK v. Entoon. —Vise-Chancellor's Court, Lin-
ooln's-Inn, April 17.—(Before Vioe-Chancellor Sir .7.
Stuart.)—The Vice-Chancellor this morning gave judg-
ment in this case, involving the question of the validity
in this country of the marriage at Alfons, in the Duchy
of Holstein—where, by the lox loci, such marriages are
legal—of a British subject, domiciled in England, with
the sister of his deceased wife. In 1847 Charlotte, the
first wife of the late William Leigh Brook, of Meth=
Hall, near Huddersfield, died. By her he had one son
and one daughter. In 1861 Mr. Brook married Emily,
the sister of his deceased wife, the two parties having
proceeded from this country, where they respectively
were then, and continued to be up to their respective
deaths, domiciled, to Alton*, for the purpose of solemn-
izing their marriage. Jo September, 1855, Mr. and Mrs.
Brook died of cholera within two days of each other,
while on a tour on the Continent. One son and two
daughters were the issue of Mr. Brook'e second mar-
riage. By his will, dated on the day of his death, Mr.
Brook gave his real and personal property among the
children of his two marriages. In 1866 Charles Armi-
tage Brook, the son by the second marriage, died. If
the second marriage were valid the two whole sisters of
Charles Armitage rook by the testator's second mar-
riage would snowed to his share of the testator's real
estate, and the four surviving children of the two mar-
riages would succeed to Charles Armitage Brook's share
of the testator's personal estate.
The Vice-Chanoellor, at the end of an elaborate judg-
ment, said: No resort to the laws of Denmark or of any
other foreign country can give validity to such a con-
tract where the law of England has made it mill and
void. It seems, therefore, the duty of this Court to
declare that the marriage between the testator and
Emily Armitage, the sister of his deceased wife, was not
• valid marriage, but is null and void to all intents and
purposes whatsoever, and that the real and personal
estate of Charles Armitage Brook, deceased, has become
vested in the Crown.

DEATH OF LORD DONFERNLINZ.—Lord Dumferm•
line (Speaker Abercromby) died at his seat, Colinton-
house, near Edinburgh, on Saturday morning, aged 112.
Lord Handyside, one of the judges at the Court of
Session, died Sunday morning at ,his brother-in-law's
seat, Kennet-house, Clackmannanshire ; his death
creates a vacancy on the Scottish bench.

The Times Paris Correspondent says—" The debates
in the British Parliament, particularly on the defences
of the English coast, have suggested matter for reflec-
tion. The faults committed since the 14th January are
said to be deeply, and, I believe, sincerely regretted.
Hopes are expressed that Lord Cowley's presence in Lon-
don before the arrival of Marshal Pastier will aid in re-
moving any difficulty as yet in the way. lam assured
on good authority, that within the last eve or six
days, the Emperor declared to a person, with whom he
was oonversing, that his determination WY not only to
have no quarrel with England, but to remain our friend
aad ally."