The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-24 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Wore the Judge Ordinary.)

smCIDDENO (CLI?4C) v. SPEDDLNG AID LANDXL.

Dr. Spicks appeared for the petitioner ; Dr. Wunbey and
Mr. Day for the co-respondent.
The Rev. Francis Spedding, curate of Shiffnal, Shropabiee,
sued for • divorce on the ground of his wite's adultery with
the co-respondent, Dr. Thomas Eaton Lander, of the same
place ; and he also claimed the sum of 2,0001. as damages.
The respondents pleaded not guilty.
The parties were married in 1846, and they had bad four
children. Mrs. Spedding's last confinement was on the 4th
of October, 1860. After this she had an illness, during
which she was attended by the co-respondent. An intimacy
thus sprung up between them, which ended in an elopement
oc the 4th of the following May.
The Rev. Henry Cunliffe, vicar of Shiffnal, said he bad
held that cure for about ten years. Mr. Spedding was
curate of the parish, and had been so for five years before
witness went there. Dr. Lander was a mediae' me in the
town, and was the attendant of Mr. Spedding's family.
Recollected Mrs. Spedding eloping with the co-respondent.
Previous to that time she had appeared to live happily
with her husband. On Friday, the 3rd of May, 1861,
Dr. Lander came to witness and said he wished hire to
know of a step which he was about to take, and which he
knew would cause witness great surprise and pain. He
stated that be had formed so attachment with Mn. Sped-
ding ; that is was reciprocated, and that they were going
to obtain a divorce and be married. Replied that such a
thing was impossible. The conversation continued for
some time, the co-respondent treating the matter very coolly
and as a matter of course. Told him what misery tt
would cause, and urged on him to abandon his design
by every motive human and divine. Reasoned with him on '
the wickedness of the step, and reminded him that as • medi-
cal man the utmost confidence had been reposed in him. The
co.respondent said he had had an interview with Mr.
Spedding that morning. Told him that it was not too
late to give up the project and let Mrs. Spalding be taken
charge of by her own family an friends. He still persisted.
and the respondents eloped on the following day. Dr. Lander
immediately &Rewards returned to Shiff nal, hadeg,as he said,
left Mrs. Spedding at RhyL He saw wittier on the follow-
ing Sunday. Told him that be could not conceive what was
the object of his visit, as the step he had taken was irre-
parable ; but said that the beat thing he could do would be
never to see Mrs. Spedding again. He replied that the
felt in honour bound to her. Reminded him that be bail a
wife and family of his own, and that both hie duty and his
honour lay in a different direction. He again said that the
intended to obtain a divorce and be
On the following day he wrote to witness the letter pro-
duced. [This was read. In it lender said that he was
willing to give up the respondent, if her friends would
receive her, and that be had resolved to put the case in the
hands of Dr. Phillimore, Q.C., and be guided by the
learned civilian's advice.] Never saw Mts. Spedding at
Shiffnal again. Dr. Lauder resumed his practice for •
short time ; then he disposed of it to Mr. Proctor, sold off
his effects, and left the town. _ _

Cross-examined—The co-respondent told him that while
in attendance on Mn. Spedding he found his sentiments
change to her, and told her that he could not continue to be
her medical man, because he felt attached to her. She thee
wrote him a letter. Witness told him he ought at once to
have burned it. Thought Dr. Lauder's conduct is coming
to witness very extraordinary, and should not have listened
to him had be not thought that in his capacity of clergyman
of the parish he was bound to do so.

-Believed that Mr. Spedding had private
property. His curacy was 1201. a year.
Evidence of an adulterous cohabitation between the
parties at the Exeter-WI Hotel was given. Edward Fur-
mage, • police -officer, accompanied the petitioner there.
The petitioner was very much excited when he saw the
co-respondent He called him • scoundrel, and would
have struck him with his (the doctor's) stick, if he
(witness) bad not stepped between them. Afterwards he saw
Mrs. Spedding, and asked her why the had left him? She
said, " You know why. You have never treated me like •
husband or • gentleman." He replied that he had always
treated her well. He asked her if she had slept with Dr.
Lander, sod she said she had. The petitioner said he should
take her boxes. She made DO resistance. Dr. Lander said,
" You can claim her luggage—do you wish to take Mrs.
Speddiog back?" Mr. Spedding said, "Certainly
not. She will never come back to me again.'
Dr. Lander said, " Yery well, that is all I
care for." Dr. Lander and Mrs. Spedding then left
in • cab together. Before going away the respondent, gave
the chambermaid • night shirt and night dress, which
were produced. They were marked "L Speddiog" and "F..
Lander." A number of the corespondent's letters to the
respondent, which bad been found in the luggage seized at
the hotel, were also reed. In these document, the doctor
suggested that they should represent the affair to be broken
off, in order that he might with greater facility dispose of
his practice ; after which be promised to devote himself
wholly to her, and take her to Australia.
Dr. Wawbey addressed the court strongly in mitigation of
damages.
Sir C. Cromwell in summing up, commented on the de-
liberation and audacity with which the crime of the respon-
dents had been designed and carried into effect.

The jury found a verdict fur the petitioner with 1,0001.
damages.

lk;ree nisi with costs.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Fine.)

IN RE GEORG' tiTIFY.-THR " NORIITNO CHROXICLR," " LON-

nox Jounsua.," &C.
The bankrupt was described as of 334, Strand, and of
Beulah Spa Villas, Norwood, newspaper proprietor. The
bankruptcy took place on the 20th of This was the
adjourned sitting for examination and discharge. The ac-
counts prepared by Mr. Joseph Hart, of Moorgate-street,
disclose the following results:
" I.)r. :To creditors (unsecured), 32,6511. 7e. 3d. ditto,
machine hands, for wages, 781. lie. Bd. ; reporters, Sic.,
salaries, MI. 10e. ; creditors holding security, 4,2311.
2s. 10d.; liabilities on bills discounted (not expected to prove
on this estate), (ii 1. 2a 10d. ; creditors paid in full, 1,0821.;
deficiency brought from statement of account, 14,5601.
I'M. Id. ; profit, being eetimated, improved seine of London
mat from reduction of paper duty, 21,0001. ; estimated
value of the Guiffe, 6,620/. ; four-fifths profit on trading
Wrck/s Times, being Mr. Stiff' @bare, 6,444/.19a5d. ; profits
on trading, Londm fours& and Guide, 19,2641. 4s. 9d. ;
surplus July 16, 1869, W.,6641. 18e. 10d. ; total, 91,6551.
13a Id.

"Cr -By debtor over 10/.: good, 1,2471.75. 2d. ;doubtful,
2,Y.191. 41. 6d. -6491. 16.. ld. • bed, 5.. ix the pound,
5684 la 9d. By debts under 101.: goad, 7021. 18.. ld. ;
doobtful, 7921. 17s. Id.-1981. 4s. 3d. ; bed Es. in the
pound, 243/. 7.. sd. ; total, 4,203/. 10a 9d. less
doubtful, 8481. Os. 4d.: to limes, 3,3551. 10.. sd.
By property given up to eesignees, 9,2601. ss. 3d. ;
by property in the hands of creditors, 11,6441.10 e. 10d. ; lia-
bilities, per contra, 671. 2s. 161-247701. 4s. 6d. ; balance
being deficiency canted to deficiency account, 14,5601.
1038.1 d. By tomes of improved value of London Journal in
consequence of seizure under execution, 21,C30/. ;
ditto ditto, Guide, 6,030/. Expenses on trading,
Fretkly riMeil, an under Sunday trade, 8331. Is. ld. ;
rent, 334, Strand, 2001. • repairs and altemtions,
62/. 17s. Id. ; pound-rent, Ihury-oourt, 2471. 10s. ; taxes,
rztv, 1004 ; engineer, Brixton, G4l. ; blanket making,
... 3d.; 11 week.' ink at 141. Bs., 1581. 8..-1,8451.
14a. sd. ; less Mr. Hutton's proportion, debited to him, XX.
17.. Id-1,544 17a. del.; expire on trading,London Journal
sad Guide, as under, 7,0691. 5a 10d. ; repairs, 15/. ss. 11d. ;
rata and taxes, 1491. 7.. 7d. ; expenses on trading,
London Journal and Guide, continued, 1641. 13e. 6d. ;
law costs, 9411. 2a. 7d. ; Income tax, 7511. 13.. 2d. ; gratui-
ties, 1281. 4.. 3d. • annuity, 3504 ; fire insurance, 162/.
138. 6d. • rent, London Journal, 3151. 12.. 6d. ; interest
and discount, 3,321. Is. sd. ; noel, 3151. 55.-7,0591.
sa. 10d.; los. on trading, Montilla Chronicle, 8,6871.165. 2d.;
interest discount, 6901. 3.. 3d. ; home and personal expendi-
ture, 9,4571. 10a. 104. ; sheriffs' officer and messenger, main-
tenasee and expenses, 131. 10e. ; is on nelisdtion of copy.
righta, London Journal coat 30,0004 • Weekly Timer,
remt value, 7,6001.-37,6001. ; realised 1,8001. • lon,
19,0004 ; loss on copyright Weekly Times from ;educed
prune, 8,4001. • a: pewee petitioning court, 10/. ;
suspense account, 7921. tie. 9d. ; cub unaccounted for,
Morni Chronicle, 1321. 4s. ; Mr. Hyde, Bth March, for
orb entered, but not paid over to Mr. Stiff, 109/. 16a. 9d.
Losses : On Weekly Magazine, 1,2191. 3s. 6d. ; Brow-
tody's Journal, 1071. 14s. ; new daily papas, 1.6411.
10s. sd. ; becoming security for Mr. St. John, 2201. ;
piper sold to Mr. Thompson, having been
pared and not used for new daily papers, 1111. lEb;
lease and fixtures of 141, Strand, 183/. 8.. ; bones, 2431. ;
r..alisation of sundry property 1,030/. 6.. Sd.-4,7622. 15s. 7d.
Bad and doubtful debt.. 3,3564 100. sd. In this amount Is
included the balance of debtors purchased from late pro.
prietors of Morning Chronicle, 1,713/. per contra ; George
Stiff retains for expenses, 394 16e. Total, 91.6551. 13e. Id.
The bankrupt returns his expenditure for the last two
years at 3,6001. m 413.4001. respectively. The largest credi-
tors are Mr li'Munsy, of the paper mills, Viandowneth•
whose debt is 10.7421., and Messrs. Spalding and Hodge, of
brurYdaoe, 10,2:401. The Bank of hoodoo are creditor. for
2021 t, and hold is security the leases of premise. at
Brixton-hill, and in Drury.court, Strand. Mr. W. Lam-
bert, a creditor for 1,709/., bolds mortgage on copyright of
11"rro,,y Chronicle, and lease of premises, 332, Strand.
Mr. Linklater appeared for the assignee., and Mr. 0. E.
Lewis for the banosipt.
The accounts, which are very voluminous, not ar!ng
been tiled in time, an adjournment was ordered.
Mr. look appeared for creditors.
The day fixed for the adjourned Bitting is the 20th of
August.

IN RE BEDDON.--.11 DIVORCE CARL
The bugloss' was described as clerk to an upholsterer,
01 the Priory, 'Hilburn. This was the sitting for examination
:0(1 discharge. His debts are 1,6.571., of which upwards of
isle respectof his wife's costs in the DivoroeCoure, in a
sun which the bankrupt ieetitsted against her, and which
moulted is a verdict is his favour, with a farthiwg damages.
Mr. E. Reed and Mr. flargood opposed : Mr. C. E. Lewis
!nilPorted, and called attention to the fact that the solicitor
instructing one of the learned counsel had been the co-ree-
Pnedeot in the action in the Divorce Court.
His Honour passed the examination of the bankrupt, but
Iditurned the order of discharge until October.