The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-17 00:00:00

-IMPERIAL P.

HOCSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.)
The House met at 12 o'clock, but the requisite 40 mem-
tees had Doi assoutbkol until halt-put 12, when the Speaker
twk the chair.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

7be Aberystwith and Welsh Coart Railway Bill, sad the
D:terey Harbour Bill were severally read a third time sad
rsol.

LAW INTELLIGIFSCE
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Bdoni the Jarlp Ordinary.)
SPICICZ r. MICZIL-SPICIAL

Mr. Serjeant Parry and Mr. John Rigby for the peti-
tioner; Mr. Huddleeton, Q.C., Dr. Phillimore, Q.C., and
Dr. Tristram, for the respondent.
The petitioner, Henry Spicer, sought • restitution of
his conjugal rights; and the respondent, Phoebe
Grant Spicer, pleaded cruelty in reply, and prayed
• judicial separation on that account. Hrs. Spies,
stated that Ler maiden name was Dawson, and that
she was the daughter of a grocer. She bad been married to
a clergyman named Lawford, who died 13 or 14 years two,
leaving her with one child, • daughter, rime deceased. She
had property to the amount of 19,0004 or 20,000 f.
In 1854 ahe was living at Notting-hill, and the
petitioner, who warn in the medical profession, kept •
druggist's shop opposite. He attended her daughter
for several months, and afterwards the respondent herself
for an affection of the throat. He proposed marriage to her,
and at length she yielded to his repeated solicitations. A
, negotiation was commenced respecting a settlement ; but he
was averse to any communication with her relatives, and
one night he threw himself on • table, protesting,
if be did not marry her he would take poison.
On the following day, the 4th of September, 1854,
he repeated the scene, and also wept profusely. The re-
spondent then agreed to be married, and they went to
church. On the way he took off her previous wedding ring,
which be made use of again. There was no one pre-
sent at the ceremony except her servant, Esther
Fewest, and the pew opener. On going home
Mrs. Spicer said she thought she should not be happy in
nomeguence of the old wedding ring being need again. He
therefore stopped the cab in Edgware-road, and bought her
• new one. They did not sleep together that night ; but
the next day he joined her at her house. His manners were
then very cold. They went to Ireland for a month. While
at Killarney he one day flew into • violent rage, struck
her, and said, "D— you, I married you for your
money." Replied, "I wish you had said that before." (A
laugh.) Then he struck heragain. After returning to Notting-
hill he was often violent and abusive. He used the coarsest
laxguage, and on one occasion he took up a carving knife to
her. Hewanted her to obtain 1,50 W. from her brother to pay
his debts with. She did not obtain it for him, and he
struck her, and told her he would lead her a hellish
life. Once be tore her hair, broke her combs, and
made her head bleed. On another creation he seised her by
the throat and nearly strangled bee ; and once he threatened
her with • poker. At length in October, 1855, she made her
escape from him while they were in Scotland. On her way
to London she wee stopped by the police, acting under the
authority of • telegram. She was dragged out of the car-
riage, taken between two policemen to the station, and kept
in custody from midnight till half-past seven the
next morning. Then she was taken in the same way to an
hotel; and afterwards she was brought before the magis-
trate.. They at once discharged her, and she came up to
London, under the protection of Mr. Gibbon, who was re-
"toted by the bench to accompany her. She had ever
since lived apart from her husband ; but he had instituted
several suits against her in Chancery.
On cross-examination, she denied that she and her servant
Crib had ever made noises with brooms and the fire-irons so
as to imitate marrow bones and clearers, her husband having
been the son of • bather. The cook did, however, once
ring the surgery bell ; bat she did not make noises for two
or three hours. He obtained the narrate license on the
way to the church (Christ Church,Paddington). Would
solemnly deny that she (respondent) had ever interfered
with petitioner's patients, but he made a statement to that
offset • pretext for selling his business.
(The case was proceeding when we went to press.)

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Bdore Mr. OommisioDer Holruyd.)

The bankrupt, clescaseda;•Ti;;;;;l victualler of Gun-
street, Blackfriars-road, applied for his order of discharge.
Debts, NO/. ; no assets.
Mr. Aldridge opposed for the °Said assignee.
Mr. Morrough opposed for a creditor, on the ground that
he had contracted a debt without reasonable or probable ex-
pectation of being able to pay it. He had purchased • hone
and trap for 221., representing that he had a oountry
house at Kilburn, and wanted to drive backward and for-
wards. He had afterwards disposed of his house, and had
sines been out of the way for a twelvemonth.
Tim bankrupt being examined, admitted that be had
bought a bone and trap of Mr. Rodman, and given a bill
at a month. He had since paid his brewers. He denied
having knocked down the sheriff's of when be was
arrested. Thought it was himself that was knocked down.
(A laugh.) He had been out of business since May, 1861.
He wanted the home arid map for a customer, who did not
take it ; so be made the best be could of it.

Mr. Murrough asked that the bankrupt should be com-
mitted under the 159th sec.

His Honour said the court had no power to do that, the
offence baring been committed before the passing of the
act. As he had obtained goods without probable expecta-
tion of being able to pay for them, the order of discharge
would be suspended for eight months without protection.