The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-04-22 00:00:00

A RUSSIAN'S NOTIONS ON THE
ENGLISH DIVORCE LAW!

At the how-street Fon-court, In London. three men,
Frederick Sti.hmsr, Wm. Veal, and Henry Elia who had
bcen remanded on the charge of obtaining by false pre-
tences a certificate of naturai!z ;lion Porn the Home Secre-
tary, mut with making fate eeclaratloni, As. were brought
up last Saturday for final examtuation.

The evidence woe taken, and it was proved that the
certificate had been obtained for Alexandrowna
IVerewkina, alleged to le the wife of Paul Ischakessuff,
a Russian proi rietor, who appeared to be anxious to
obtain the certificate to enable the lady to become
possessed of certain property at hit di?posal. They
had only arrived in .England in September last, but
Stuhmar, who had hen consulted on the subject,
undertook to procure the necessary declarations, by
four householders, that the apacants had lived in
England five out of the last eight Team. , Stuns
amounting in all to about £lOO were paid to Stuhmar,
who, it was alleged, had paid £lO to each of the other
defendants, and to two persons not in custody, for
signing the false declarations. .

'1 he principal evidence in the case was given by
Charles Albert, the interpreter, who depos.d that in
December last Mr. Tourrier, landlord at the "Francais
Belgique" Hotel, in Vernon-place, Bloomsbury, sent
for him to see a Elusion who was living there. On
seeing him the latter said he wanted his wife to be
naturalized. 'Witness said it was impossible to get this
done for his wife separately, and on seeing a certificate
in his possession he asked how it was that his address
was given as "Brixton," instead of the hotel. He
replied that a man had obtain, d the address and all
other requisite matters,and that ho had paid him 280,
adding that the man was coming that very day to
receive Lid more for his extenees and services in
obtaining the certificate. He was anxious before
parting with Chi money to ascertain if the certificate
was correct, and that was why the landlord had
sent for witness. He said that his wife hod signed
some paper, but she did not know what it was, and
it Wail not explained to her. i he Euesian gentleman
told him that in his own country a man could not
leave all his property to his wife, and his family would
oppose such an act. He wished, therefore, his wife to
be declared a British subject and a single woman,
after which he intended to ot*ain a divorce from hpr

and settle all his property on her. Witnese
informed him that he had cammemied at the
wrong end, and should have got his divorce first, but
that be could never get a divorce in England unless he
could prove the adultery of his wife. He thanked spit.
nee for the information, and said he had understood
that "amicable die:zees " were granted in England ae
a matter of course. The certificates were left in wit-
ness's possession "to make inquiries," and he took it
dewn to the Home Office. He returned by arrange-
ment to the hotel in Vernomstreet, when he was
present at an interview between the Russian gentle-
man and Stuhmar, and he asked the latter how he
dared to impose upon the ignorance of a foreigner,
adding that the prisouer was liable to prosecution
for perjury and fraud, and ought to refund
the money which he had surreptitiously cti
tabard, and which would have been enough
to procure 20 naturalization certificates, the usual
coat being only 4:3 or £4, all fees included. The
prisoner said he was the father of a family, and must
live, beside which he had been obliged to pay away
most of the money to others. Witness advised the
Russian geetleman to prosecute the prisoner, Mit when
he heard that he valid not have the certificate he grew
nervous, and left the country that very night, an in-
terpreter (sentby the witness Albert) having seen thon
off, with five cabloads of luggage to Dover for Ostend.
- -

After the examination of several witnesses in con.-
firmation, and of the detective officer Druscevich re-
lative t the apprehension of the defendants, the
magistrate committed them for trial, consenting, on
the application of Mr. Poland (the BUliCitOr to the
Treasury) to liberate Veal on his own recognizance's.
The others were bound Over, Stuhinar in kAill and
Ellis in ENO sureties (two each) to appear at the trial.
They were committed in default.