The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-13 00:00:00

DAFT V. DAP! AND LAND.

The Queen's Advocate and Mr. Garth for the petitioner
Dr. Deane, Q.C., and Mr. W. Harrison for the respondent.
The co-respondent, Mr. William Kirkman Lane, a solicitor,
had died since the institution of the suit.
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On the 12th of July, 1835, Mr. Robert Barons Daft, •
young draper, married at All Soule, St. Marylebone,
Georgians Psachood, • dressmaker, about two years his
junior. In 1848 be became • licensed victualler. He was
landlord of the Green Dragon. Lendenhall-market, of an inn
at Wimbledon, and of the Collingwood, Hall-park, Pad-
dington. He left the business in May last.
Mr. Weale, the petitioner's partner, said that for many
years the parties had lived comfortably together.
Crow-examined—His temper was not very good. Had
said that it was diabolical. There was a separation in 1848 ;
but in 1851 the respondent returned to him. Dill not know
anything about the final separation.
Mr. Benjamin Booker, a licensed victualler in Chaos-
street, Strand, had known the parties for more than ten
years, Had often seen Mrs. Daft drunk. On the 18th of
October, 1861, she came to witness for his advice, as she bad
left her husband. Wittier told her that be
had already had • good deal of trouble with
her, and refused to interfere. She then went away,
and after a time returned with • gentleman who she said
was her solicitor, and who told witness that his name was
Lane. After hearing what witness had to say, Lane recom-
mended the respondent to go back to her hothead. Witness
told her that if she would promise to keep sober and quiet,
she might stop at witness's house till he had seen her
husband. She stayed for • week, and witness then got
apartments for her in St. Msrylebone-road. Had regularly
paid ber 255. • week for Mr. Daft.
William Josses had been in the employment of the last
witness as barman. In November last he was directed to
watch the respondent, and one day he saw her go
with an old gentleman to Cartell's Hotel, in Rupert-
street, Haymarket. After staying there for an hour
sad • MU, they went in • cab to No. 1, Great
Chapel-street, Oxford-street. They remained there for two
bows. Next they went to • public house and had some-
thing to drink. Then they proceeded in • cab to Sloane-street;
and ultimately, two young gentlemen came out of the house
sad took her to a brush shop, where she lodged. Witness
was afterwards enabled to identify the persons he had fol-
lowed as the respondents.
Crowexamined—Was now • marble polisher. Had re-
ceived for watching the respondents Is., four or five times,
and money for his expenses.
Caroline Elderkin was charing at No. 1, Chapel-street,
when the lent witness came to make inquiries. At that
time two persons were in a bedroom, where they stayed
for two hours. Was afterwards taken to the co-respondent's
office in Golden-equare, and reoognised bins as the gentle-
man she had seen in Chapel-street. Afterwards saw the
woman in Sloane-street, and identified her as the respon-
dent.
Dr. Deane contended for the respondent that the evidence
of identity was not sufficient.
Sir C. Cromwell said that if the owe had rested on the
testimony of Jones alone, it would not have been enough
to found • decree upon ; but the witness was so strongly
confirmed by the charwoman, that he could not hesitate in
pronouncing for the petitioner.—Decree nisi.