The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-03-01 00:00:00

Somasashirt.

LAST Thursday evening, an old woman, named
Curtis. was returning home from Pensford Church. and
walked into the river. Aasistance being at hand she
was rescued.
J•littm VOWLES, of Tieketiham, was recently
going soros. one of his fields after dark. whet a
bulloeh in the path lumped up, and one of its born. no
severely lacerated his thich, that he has alnee died.
An under-gardener, named Smith, at Sandhill•park,
near Taunton, has hang himself through melancholy,
on bearing of the death of a former sweetheart. In a
letter to his sister he said, ' I have never been happy
or Rattled Since I left the north, when I left behind me
all that was dear to me on earth, and now I feel alone
in a barren land." .

tioMIBBET CHAMBER or AORICOLTBRE.—A qsarterly
meeting of the council was held on Friday, at Yeovil.
Only one of the 1,040 suhcribers had withdrawn, and
othem had been added. Mr. Neville-Grenville, M.P..
spoke of the important resnlta, from a parliamentary
point of view, achieved through agitating the question
of local taxation. They had not only got Government
to recognise bet to pay deference to the question. It
was resolved to urge the subjeot in the vinous parishes
now that leeel taxation is being brought before Parlia-
ment, and to extend the operations of the association
to every parish in the county. The petition, mom-
mended by the Local Taxatien Committee. is to be
circulated for signature praying the Nousd of Commons
"to take into MAE eon-ideration the present unjust
exemption front the poor rate asseasment of income
arising from personal p roperty." 1,500 copies of Mr.
Gardner's prise sway on local taxation are to be sir-
C,onvermition took place respecting turnpikes
and compulsory edneatirm.

COVRT OF PROBkTE AND DIVORCE, SATURDAY.
(Before Lord Penzance and a special jury).

?BITCH* RD V. PRITCHARD AND BRAN.

This was • petition by the husband for a dissolution
of marriage, on the ground of the respondent's adultery
with the oo.reepondent. They on their tort denied the
allegations of the petitioner, and pleaded condonation
by the husband. The wife had also a cross snit praying
judicial separation on the ground of cruelty by her
Mahan& The petitioner is employed by the National
Provincial Rank of England R. an Inspector of their
branch establishments, and the digits. of his situation
reoniro him to be frequently absent on business.. In
Pas. being then area twenty-sin, he married the
respondent, who wan seven years younger than himself
As she was imperfectly educated, the petitioner gent
her to a finishing school in the Isle of Wight, where she
remained for the greater part of a year. They after-
wards lived in Drayton-terrace. Brompton, where their
first child was hem. In January, 1966, Mr. TI citchard
was vent to inspect the bank stßanicor, and we. absent
on that duty three months. While he was sway the so.
respondent visited his wife, and after the petitioner's re.
turn to bmineas in London, he frequently found his wife
out, on coming home from the Rank In the evening
and sometimes found her at home with the co-res.
pendent in her company. This lead to some unplea-
santness, bet the petitioner still did not stprreset hie
wife of ' infidelity. In May, 1667. they arranged to
separate, for • time at least, and the respondent took
lodgings in Florence-street, Islington, where also she
we. visited by the to-respondent, who frequently
supped there. In the tonne of a few weeks, how-
ever, a reconciliation wan effected between the res-
pondent and her Mistond. who shortly afterwards
was sett to Wimborne. in Dorestehire. Thither his
wife followed him, and was accompanied to the rail-
way station by the co-respondent. from whom, while
at Wirnborrie she frequently received lettere Raving
own her off at the station, the en-respondent after-
ward. called at her lodging. in lalington for her ph.,
lograph, of which he took charge, representing himself
to the necurousts of the house as her hnattand's brother.
It appears from some of the evidence that his Lunn:lm
tion of this character was with the petitioner's consent,
a fact which was strongly relied upon as establishing
condonation.
. . . -

The 'Cation-limit at Wimhorne was called to speak to
the fart of the eo-reepondent having some down by
train. meeting Yrs. Pritchard on the platform and
ancemnanying ber to Warelanm, but on being shown •
phntoeraph he could nnt identify It est that of the
gentlemen he hed wen. The rhemberm•i4 of the Red
Li n Hotel. Wareham. however. swore positively to the
photograph of the ro-reepondent a• that of a gentleman
who wirified that place of entertitinment in the he-ti,
ning of Inns, WA Re wee in &mosey with she
respondent, and occupied a hod!. eon with her. The
assistant chambermaid and the waiter. Cave similar
evidenne Demages being rayed in the case, one or
two -witnesses were examined as to the means of the
en-respondent, who, it appears, is • coal agent et
Finmpatewl, with eorne property left him by his
father. The statement of the respondent's counsel
was that she bed been a waitress at Cremorne, and had
been seduced by the petitioner, who, to his credit,
afterwards married her, hot when he had done so, he
took her to lodgings where she passed note. his wife,
but as his cousin, and treated her frnre the beginning
as irospected and disgreoed person, until he at length
proessslnd to strike her with • whio, giving her blows
on the foes and the like. The respondent was called.
and gave testimony to this items. She denied that
when she went to the hotel at Wareham with Kr.
Been they had no:tinier' any room hut • sittine-soom,
and also denied having had criminal interoourse with
him. On cross-examination, she admitted that he had
kissed her sere& times, and on being asked whe'ller
she had not lived in a house of ill-fame in Hollywood.
road, Brompton, she declined to answer. Mr. John
Roan, the co-reepondent, was 'then examined, and
denied that he bed gone into • bedroom at Wereham
with the respondent, or that any improper familiarities
had taken plaoe between them. He stated that he was
an old friend of the family, and had known the
respondent from childhood.

_
The Todge Ordinary. in summing up recommended
the jury not *to attach too much credit to the stories
told by the wituemea from Wareham. but thought they
could entertain little doubt an to the oonnection
misting between the respondent and co-reeponleet.wbieli
appeared clearly enough made out bye letter which was
found end produced.
The jury found for the petitioner, affirming the
adultery of the respondent and 00-respnodent, and
negativing the charge of enmity by the Petitioner to
his wife Damages of £.lOO were given' and the Judge
Ordinary granted • decree nisi with costs.
The cam occupied the whole day up to live o'clock.
Counsel for the petitioner. Dr. Spinks and Yr. Dixon ;
for the respondent, Dia Dean and Xt. Bed; for
410-respondent, Kr. Bash Cooper.

Tll6 moRDAuNr DIVORCE cssE.
It is • great relief that in...ly and not profligeor
of the extraordinary
has been established as the mato
emit...wog Lady mordianns made opromf herpoawn,
redistuhrnon.oaara.
After • seven days' trial the incapable of under.
verdict that the hapless lad? V"
therefore, be made
t th
standing her pdsition. she canoe .oovation whether
a the
a party
in
a cause
triceic.ing °slhe asrnittod herself—
cr not she was the faithleess wife
.0.,
the ___at w_.
ra,ionally or iio
rr.tn•lly—tO .
wickshire Semdal" is brought to an
irent°°o"mon';;;;.:
-issue. In 1886, the daughter of Sir
Warwiciabire boiMnet.
married Sir Charles Wordeunt. a.
age,
sed the parties
There was no Unsitilteetbitify Of
.1 together until early in
rear Se
have
lived
'PrAcif Febrower in that Jew
March. 16611. Os the 25th tnree ci.ys ter.
Lady
binedannt
confined,
t Ode ohild wee not his
;
wards she told her husband that
fi made
' and five days subisequo"r another and 13°"cola was the fatheroind.
definite statement, that Lordother
person..
that she bad miscoodacted herself with
Sir Frederick Johnstone andthePrienie:
of Wales
being
"Pecia"Y mentioned'
she nad
.ons ; Mbut same.
ar state'
le'
to the nurse sod other per
fl her to take so
quently wrote to the noise
notice of what she might hav4elsitaantileltdeser.hiolt it 66
first *peas ently
normative." Her husband was:
for he wrote letters
un-
willing
to
believe
her
"'time°
jter her second sod
on the 9th and 10th of March,o.
he.ta that
CirCUMUnthd
"ate
m..nt.
in
ari
"'that it shewasteddifiloulti
w"
hysterical aid
liee'flia,
air
idea of her infidelity
make her underrtand. Sot the.
grew upon bim, and ow tits I left Walton.
4th of April left the
house, ant on the lath of May am
Sir Charlie's residence. for Loadon' afterwards going
to Worthing and Sickle,.'lb 'cltationh fromAptrhiel
Divorce Court wits served on
-the
to 30
decide
ide WOA
whether se was a
and the illuestioll for the jury
t that time incapable of udder.
h
standing her Polltdon• That 1
i outdo"' they decided
in the affirtnatise, and • careful c..nsin oderttrio:
ionfdais Ithtte•
evidence leaves very little doubt o
tory arrived ate jmt °occlusion. Obviously, the moult
of the lotg trial does not establish the absolute_
i°°-
come of Lady Moedituot ; neither does the
eevidence
• adduced prove bet guilt. It was nressa.ry. forgivtoihe
hoeband's case that &ADO evidence should DO
making it pomdble that her statements had some basis
of truth, and it must be admitted that the evidence ea
to visits and appointments at least proved that she had
I been indiscreet. She received the visits of .male frien.ls,
one at least nose-ming • reputetion. for galiantrr. fiD•
known to her husband }and Sunni Sir Charles's absence
for a month, Lord Cole, one of the respondents, a young
Imart then under twenty.fonr years of age, stayed for
some Dine at tbe Inaure, and certainly exhibits :roams
lequivocal faru:lierity with his
youthful
1;1111;fidelit
this visit resulted subsequent suspicion o her y,
• supported by the explicit statement she herself made,
and • memorandum in Lady Uordsinnt • writing wa
found, in which the date was mentioned and • period
of
2slo days namod. The child was born on the 25th
hot
February, IMO, 244 days, or almost exactly t
month. after Lord Oole left, and severe mouths
.o her eighteen
days after the husband's return. t The none,
evidence, said the birth was premature, and Sir Charles
in his evidence admitted that he advertised the birth in
the Morning Post as "premature." Therefore not
only was it quite possible, but eves most probable.
that Sir Charles was the father of the child, and that
the mention by lady lifordsunt of Lord
.Cole" name in
connection with the paterolte was the °°°rlalr
e"it
delusion canned by bodily weAnees, not t emu'
In the early days of *confinement ; a delusion which was
one of the first symptoms of fllest• snorbit disease which
gradually developed into the insniiitY which huntaZid....
the beautiful, gay, careless young wit..a • ma
wonder end • show." In one remarkable respect this
lamentable Mater,- Mends promineot : proceedingsbore all the
stories of domestic wretchedness which tll
in the Divorce Court have brought to 11gb t. The scandal
included the name and touched the ferns of him whom
we would gladly busy. the 'rot* and the
ievo to h• Royal
expectancy of the fair State," the inheritor tit
mother's virtues, of his princely father's noble qualities.
and on Wednesday the Divorce Court preach Sod the
ended spectacle of the Prince of Wales goi.ll into
the witness-box to clear himself from the impute tions
cast upon bum. This is what took place:—
Dr. Deane ratted his Royal Highnew. the Prince of Wales.
Lord Penzance polnusi out that his Royal Highness was not
bound or required In law to submit to any examination,tend log
to Implicate himself In • chsrgelof adultery.
The Prince ef Wales mid - I bars been for some years at.
I oprainted with the *merle!. family. I was acquainted with
Lady Mordaunt beton: her marriage. I made her • marriage
present. She has visaed at Marlborough-house, and went to
the rheatre with the Prince= and myself at the eine of 1867 and
during 1 saw much of Lady Mordannt. Was acquainted
with Sir Charier. Wordattnt. Item frequently met him (Sir
Charles liordaUnte with his wife. In 1888 there was • pigeon
match at Burlingham. and I and Sir Charles Nordauat were
captains for each county. Lady Mordannt was there. and
Worhi for both skim At that match I epoke to Lady liordaunt
lie the presence of her husband.
them Has there boon any improper faruilarity or
,rieunal act between ynti and Lady Mordsunt?
' The Prince of Mali. There has not (applause).
A .p mid repot, describes the scene as follow+ :
, As Serleant Bellantine rat down miter cross-examining
the laid of the other witnesses on Wednesday after-
. noirn, Dr. Drone rose, and in low and measured tones
said that as the name of the Prince of Wales bad been
mentioned he thought it his duty, having regard to the
praition of his Royal Hgbness, to call him as a witnins.
' His Royal Highness the Prime of Wales" was then
called by that style and title. A door communicating
with an ante-room in the rear of the wart, from whence
previous witneases had come, was opened. and the
Prince of Wales was ushered into the witnem-box,
which is in fact merely a rail separating the witnesses
from the Bench, and is close to the door and the
jury-box, His Royal Highness took the plate pointed
out to him, where the other witnesses bad stood, be
I bowed to the Judge, and quietly, and with perfect same
and self-pouession, tank the Testament which was
handed to him to be sworn upon. Everyone in court
remained seated ; nor was there, indeed, any difference
in the treatment aceoided to his Royal Highness and
that extended to any other witness, other than that the
Testament was opened, and the Prince was allowed to
premi the inside of the volume, instead of the board, to
. his lips in taking the oath. Intense intermit and expect-
, ation were shown by all in court to bear the Prince's
answers to the questions'pet by Dr. Deans ; and even the
learned counsel himself did not seem to be ',tempt from
the general feeling, when, in subdued and respectful
tones, he began the examination. In reply to the first
wiseda as to whether he bad been for some years
acquainted with the Monerieffe family. the Prince, in
saying that be had, spoke ins firm, manly, •nd slightly
hoarse voice, which, though not raised beyond a eon.
versational pitch, was distinctly beard throughoat the
whole court. In the questions which followed, as to
his aoinaintanee with Sir Charles and Lady Illor daunt
the Prince spoke with equal clearness and firmness.
On that account, no doubt, it was that the sympathies
of the audience maimed to be at once with the witness,
and there was not improbably • feeling already that he
would he able to clear himself of the imputations made
against him. The same salmi and undisturbed demeanour
was preserved by the Mime of Wales, when, after lead.
ing gradually no to the main point, Dr. Deane put the
last and moat crucial question of the examination and ;
asked whether there had been any improper act or
iiimillarity between the witting; and Lady Illordsunt.
" There was not, replied hi. Royal Highness; and Po
plainly did the words, though given without 'al
emphasis, carry along with them an earnest of their
boneet truthfulness, that first • murmur of satisfaction.
then • faint clapping of hands, and finally • decided and
cordial, though not load, sheer followed. Whatever
curtesity thers might have been to hearth, examination
in chirt, the feeling was no doubt heightened by
stisoulation as to whether Sergeant &taunting, would
oroemexamioe. and, if so, in what way. The learned
counsel, however, tookeverybody by what was
evidently an agreeable surprise when he simply said.
" I have no questions to ask his Royal Highness."
Then the cheers which before had been subdued, if not
faint, were given with greater vigour, and, se his Royal
Highness turned and loft the box in • manner a. node-
monatrative as that in which he entered, he received •
marked ovation. It was, indeed, observed more than
among those who had watched the ease throughout.
that the Prince of Wales was by far the most self-
nnese.sed and undisturbed witness that bad appeared in
the course of this remarkable triaL The Impression
created by his Royal Highness was unquestionably
satisfactory. There was an obvious feeling of relief
when it was found that he was able not only to deny
the chief accusation made against him, but to give •
more innocent colour to eireumstances which, if left
unexplained, were likely to be misconstrued.
The Tines says It is evident that the Prince's error
was simply this—that be had been too °amides of his
reputation. Re had acted as ayoung man who does
not understand the passion too many have for scandal,
and had given occasion to misconstruction through
heeciksiness.

It is not in the annals of the Divorce Court that the
history of the heir to the Crown of England should be
written. The wretched stets of public morals which
made our grandfathere extenuate the infamous heartiest
'ices of the lad Prince of Wales no longer exiets.
We desire oter Print* to be the first gentleman (in the
tree meaning of the word). as be is the first subject, In
the Empire. We do not look for premature gravity,
for austere aversion to youthful pleasures, for the sold
prudence of maturity to subdue the natural gaiety and
active imaalsea of early manhood. We do.not doubt
that the Qneen, envious that the honour of her son
should be above above suspicion. desired his appearance
as a voluntary witness ; but we are also willing to '
believe th•t he himself was wager t 001.,., himself from
I the imputations cast upon him. It may be interesting
to note upon what slight grounds these imputations
Irested. There were letters, gossiping, almost boTiah
/ letters, nrsserroti, doubtless, not for the Bake of their
onitenta, but because the writer was the Prins.. Sir
Charlee Mordaunt said he cautioned his wife against
, the Prince, bat that was in 1868, the greater number
I of the letters having been written before that time;
and Sir Charles himself went with his wife to a ball
given by the Prince and Princess of Wales at Abergeldie,
and took part with the Prime in a pigeon-shooting
match, at which Lady bliordannt sewed for both, each
of these occasions being enheequent to his caution
against associating with the Prison.
One of the en-respondents, against whom a hideoes
Gimp was made, also offered himself for examination.
I Sir Frederick Johnstone was called, and told by the Judge
that he was not obliged to give evideme. Ile said in &newer
to Mr. Deane—T have known Lady Menlaunt from a child. I
have visited Walton. and kept my horses in the eillme during
the hunting mason. In September. Itirel. I dined at the
Alexandre Halal with Lady lfordaunt. Mr. Forbes told me
the day before she was there. I called and mayed to dinner.
I left at about 12 o'clock. Was in the sitting-room during
' the tinic.
I Dr. Deane--From Srst to lest has there been any improper
familiarity or criminal act between you and Lady Sordaunt?
Witness—Certainly not.
Dr. Deane—lt has been mid that you suffered severely tram
dieesee. Is that true or not?
Wltnes—A more unfoundel statement wax never made by
one man of another behind his beck; it is utterly untrue.
Cromexaminal by Mr. Siejmat Ballantine 1 WWI not neer-
! lug from dimes. when I vleited Lady Monlaunt at the Palace
Hotel. nor for man) years previosily. I went to dine with Lady
Mordaunt at her invitation. Never told her husband anything
shout it. Lady 'fadeout was quite alone with me during the
evening. I had no business transactions with her. I aro no
family connexion of Lady Moribund:R.
On ThineJav Mr. Ballantrne addremed the Jury for the
petitioner. and Mr. Deam replied.
On Friday Lord Penzanee summed up the ease to the Jury.
The small and ding) Divorce Court was again thronvel in
every part to hear the summing up of the JodirecOnfinary.
The gallery WWI crowded with the more t public, admitted by special fat our of the court. A painful and offensive feeture in thin part of the Irene wan a number of
sharnele-m women, brazen and bedizened, liatenlng not only
iniebedicil, but with an obviou* relish and undisguised .r.

HUNTING APPOI NT 31 El CIS.

The F.a.t Donet Rounds will meet on Tur..l.y.
day), Crawford Cross; Thursday, Park .s.'arff'.
ham—at 11.
The Blzokmors Vale Foxhounds will meet on Tuesday
(this day).Holmest Pound ; Thursday, Cann 'lle
Friday, Basher Bridge—at 11.
Mr. Radolyffe's Hounds will meet on Toes 'lsf
day), Admigton Gate ; Friday, Ifoloomb•—at il•
_