The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-08-23 00:00:00

legal.

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AN UNPROTECTED FEMALE IN DIFFICULTIES.

At the Lambeth Police Court on Tuesday. a middle.
aged fashionably.dreased lady, who appeared in a state
of nervous excitement, applied to Mr. Norton for his
advice ail to hew she should act respecting her hus-
band,. to whom she had not been married quite two

months.
From the lady's statement it appeared that she was
the daughter of a sur•.eo n, and had ha at married to • i
gentleman who died about five years ago, leaving her •
widow without a family, a well furnished house, and •
handsome inn In the month of March last, while
attending a lecture in St. James's-hall, she met a gentle-
man about her own age, who introduced hhaself as the
SOO of an earl, made pasaionate love to her, and vowed
be would aliJut her unless she warfied him. On his
representations of high family and connexions, his pr.,-
nosing to present her with • new carriage and r2,(XX)
in money, and consenting to have her own jointure set-
tled upon herself, she consented to comply with his
wishes, and they were married on the Mir of June
last at St. Geoige's Church, Hanover-square. Weeks
rested over without the presentation of either the
£2,000 or the carriage, and this induced the applicant
to suspect that her husband had not acted candidly with
her ; and this feeling was increased by his nut introdu-
cing her to a single member"( those whom he described
as his aristocratic family. .All, in fact, she could learn
about her husband was that lie was the friend of a mer-
chant of much respectability, having offices in Thread-
needle-street, and residing at the West-end, and in
Wllltie service be held tome appiiiitment at the time
of his marriage. This appointment she had reason to
suspect lie hail since lost, and was at present wholly
livnig upon her. The first cuestion which she had to
est: Ins worship was whether she was obliged to supply
her husband with clothes, yarticuhady as lie was in
the habit of goins, out in a very ;moil suit mid eon ng
home in a very Cad one. (laughter.) "On Saturday
last," added the applicant, "he left my Ingim,is
nicely dressed as any geotleinan, mid did not return
until midday on Monday, when he came back in a
deplorable state."
Mr. Norton.—What is the name of your husband,
pray?
Applicant. —Captain William Denby Sloper Harris, I
think it is.
Mr. Norton.—lt is rather strange that a lady should
not know her own name. (Laughter.)
Applicant.—Well, I must admit it is strange, but I
now think it is Harrison; but I shall go and get in,
marriage certificate.
The applicant then left the court, but returned in a
short time with the marriage certificate, which she
handed to the magistrate.
Mr. Norton.—l see by this document that your mar-
riage took place on the :Nth of June, and that the name
of your husband is Harrison. He must therefore have
made FOrfle mihrepresentation, as the name of the noble-
man lie assumed iii not Harrison.
Applicant. —Oh, yes ! he must have deceived me, and
yet professed so much love. (Renewed laughter.) Ile
has treated me cruelly, and yet he Obi me my house
and all I have gut are his, insists on having the whole
of illy keys, and ass I shall be obliged to supoort him.
Mr. Norton.—Sell, I am afraid that is KO ' ' but I
understand, from the officer who has been to your
house at your request, that your husband has not only
consented but wishes you to sue for a divorce.
Applicant—Then I'll do so ; I only wish I bad it
now. I bad an excellent offer from a barrister just
before. and was fool enough not to accept it. I wish
your Worship would take the trouble of just reading the
letter Rent to me by my husband before our marriage,
and then the letter of the barrister making me an ex-
cellent offer. (Laughter).
Mr. Norton —I have no great curiosity in such
matters, but now, Mrs. Harrison, as that appears to be
your name, if you can say you go in fear of your hus-
band I shall grant you a suuunons.
Mrs. Harrison (after sonic liesitation)—No. I can't say
I do; I think he loves me too well to injure we, though
I don't love him a hit. (Much laughter.)
Mr. Nortmi.—Then I should recommend you to go
home and come to some arrangement for a speedy divorce,
or separate.
Mrs. Harrison.—No, I'll not go home, I ant afraid to
do so. I shall go to Brighton, and lie may sell or do
what he likes with the goods in the house.
Mr. Norton. —What may be their value!
Mrs. Harrison.—r.wo or ZIOD.
Mr. Norton.—Well, my advice to you is to go home.
Mrs. Harrison.—! feel very much obliged to you, Sir,
ut I shall go to Brighton.
Mrs. Harrison then withdrew.