The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-18 00:00:00

Ellittsbirt.

COURT TOR DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL
CAUSES, Jintu 13.

(Before Me Jroos-Oants 0114 (bane* Atria)

P. KNAPP AND Howls Low.

Mr. Serjeant Pigott and Mr. Dowdeswell appeared
for the petitioner ; Mr. Wordsworth, Q.C.' and Mr.
Jemell for the reapondont ; and Mr. F. H. Lewis and.
Mr. Searle for the co-reqmodent.
John Knapp prayed for a draaolution of lin marriage
with Rachel Knepp, on the ground of bar adultery with
Robert Homblow. Both the respondent and the eo.
respondent denied the charge of adultery, and the res.
pundeut (unbar pleaded that the petitioner had incited
various persona to tempt and induce her to commit
adultery, that It. had condoned the alleged adultery,
and that be had balm guilty of cruelq.
The petitioner WAS a farmer and dairyman, at Broad.
Bltinsden, in Wiltshire, the relondent was the
dau;hter of a farmer, and the 00-reapoodent Was •
blacksmith and farrier living in the same village. The
marriage took place in April, 1865, the petitioner being
about 23 and the respondent about 18 years old. Very
soon after the marriage difference* moms between theta ;
he complained that ahe did not attend to her dull..
as a fanner', wife, bet was idle and extravazent, sod
she complained that he treated her with aisles., anti
unkindness, sad obliged her, she being her in delicate
health, to do harder work than her sensigth would bear.
In June, 1860, • short separation took pima, and as
agreement was signed to which Hornblow was one of the
attesting witneesoa Mrs. Knapp went home to her parents
but in a few days she returned toiler husband. Homblow
was a married man, with several children, ar.d the clerk
of the parish A girl aanied Austin, who had been in the
Derek. of Mr. and Mrs, Knapp, In 1880, pre evidence
of several ado of familiarity between Hornblow and
Mrs. Knapp, whisk she had witnessed while Mr. Knapp
and the reel of the family were absent from the house.
She used frequently to send for him to do various
repairs I. the dairy, and they were in the habit of
drinking gin, and cider, and *thee honors together. On
one occasion be took rather too inueli to drink and was
said to have talked about what bad passel between
them. She remoestrated with him, and a letter was
produced, in which he asked her pardon for I.is indis-
cretion, and addresecd ber some versea, which he had
copied out of the poet's coma of a country newspaper,
assuring her of his attachment. Both to Austin and to
the dairywoman Elise Dunaden, Mrs. Knapp several
timer spoken of Hornblow in tarta, which amounted to
• confession al her adultery. she said that he had
given her a small boa of some stuff" which would make
the men love her," and that she was afraid she was in
the familvway and the child would be like Hornblow.
She aloe signed a paper, which wee produced, admitting
the truth of the ebarpa against her. In September,
1860, the villagers of arose' Bluossien espressed their
opinion of the coaduot of Mn. Knapp by what is called
" rough inimic"—namely, making a noise with nuarrosr•
bone' sad cleavers near the Low. The rumours
afloat as to hire. Knapp's modest thee came to her
husband's ears, be made inquiries among the per-root*,
and the result was that she returned to her parent.,
and thee petition was promnted.
At the conclusion of the petitioner's care,
Sir. Wordsworth said the evidence was en conclusive
that he ought not to struggle against it.
The Judge-Ordiiary said it WU a very clear care.
The verdict was accordingly entered for the peti•
timer ; and
His Lordship granted a decree nisi, with CAM& against
the co-reapondent.