The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-11 00:00:00

EXCHEQUER CHAMBER.—Disy 9.

Sittings in Brror.—(Before Lord Chief Baron Kelly,
Barone Bramwell, Chaanoll, and Pigott. and justices
Keating and Smith.)
This was the /Int day of the ratings in error, and the
wart disposed of cases from the Queen's Beach.

BRYANT r. FOOTZ—MARRIAOt rasa.
This was an action to recover marriage fees originally
brought and tried in the Queen's Bench, and came before
this court on an appeal from the judgment of that court.
The defendant, the Rev. Mr. Foote, was the rector of
Houghton, in Bucks, and a mandamus had been granted
in consequence of his refusal to marry the plaintiff unless
he first paid a certain marriage fee, viz., 10a. for the rector
ai.d 3s. for the clerk. The refusal arose from certain dis-
pute. in the pariah, and in order to have the question
raised and decided. When the mandamus came on for
trial the facts were turned into a special ease, which was
argued in the Queen's Bench, when the majority of the
Bench gave judgment in favour of the plaintiff, on the
ground that the defendant had not shown that 13a. was
the fee demanded and paid for the solemnisation of a
in his parish from the time of legal memory, the
Tenitgrtliarßiahard I. The defendant thereupon appealed to
this court, and at the conclusion of the arguments the
court took time to consider its judgment.
The Lord Chief Baron, in delivering judgment, said the
question the court had to decide was whether they could
hold that the claim by prescription could be sustained.
The judges, with the exception of Mr. Justice Beating
were of opinion that it could not, and that the decision d
the Court of Queen's Bench must be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
MAT 9.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)

RICHARDSON r. RICHARDBON AND LANGHAN, THE QIIIREeII

PROCTOR INTICEVINING.

Dr. Kees*ly, Q. 0., for the petititioner ; the Solicitor-
General and Mr. Searle for the Crown.

The petitioner, Mr. Edward Richardson, of 7, klelbury-
terrace, Dorset-square, sculptor, had procured a decree
nisi, on the ground of his wife's adultery ; but the Queen's
Proctor had intervened, and charged him with having
himself led a profligate life. In support of this ease a
number of policemen and other witnesses were examined,
but it was suggested that the women with whom the peti-
tioner had been seen were not prostitutes, but " models."
The jury having without hesitation found a verdiet for
the Queen's proctor, the court reversed the decree nisi,
and dismissed the petition.

THE POLICE COURTS.

SOUTHWARK.

Aire. Annie Rickeiy,sisT.ed to be 24 years of age, and
daughter of a retired officer, residing at Sherborne, ap-
peared before Mr. Burch= for final examination, charged
with intermarrying with Robert Mills on the 22nd of Ja-
nuary, 1866, her first husband, Charles Reeve, being then
and now living. Also with intermarrying with Dr.
Humphrey Purnell Blaokmore, physician, of Salisbury, at
Perth, on the Ist of October last, her former husband being
then and now living. •
Mary Ann Sparks, dressmaker, Tyson-street, Carlisle,
said she knew the prisoner, and on the 22nd January,
1866, she was present at St. Cithbert's Church, Carlisle,
when she saw her married to Mr. Robert Mills. The cere-
mony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Marshall, in the pre-
weenie of the clerk, Mr. Little, and witness. She saw
them sign the registers sod ciebgratulated them on leaving
the church. The cortalleate peedased was a correct copy of
the parish register.
The Rev. Matthew Pierrepeilst, ILA., said that on the
2nd June, 1863, he married -the.prieoner at Cardiff, to
Julian Reeve, and he produced • certified copy of the
:lister. On Friday, the 24th uIL, he saw Reeve alive and
Mr. Ribton, for the defence said he had no wish to
i enter into any matters which, if nquired into, would cease
the lady at the bar to be pitied, and not blamed. Sinn
she had been in custody the oe against her had varied
from Dr. Blackmon to Mr. Mi ls, the farmer sow having
withdrawn himself from the scene, for what maces mere
best known to himself. It was possible that the Bev. Mr.
Pierrepoint and Miss Spa:hasten mistaken. The prisoner's
father also bad _received a letter from Reeve's mother,
stating that he wee dead.
Mr. Benham ebeened that the reverend gentleman had
sworn to seeing Reeve alive and well on the 14th ult.
Mr. Ribton then asked for a further remand to inquire
into that. Besides, the prisoner had a petition in the
Divorce Court against Dr. Blaokmore for alimony coming
on for hearing next Tuesday.
Mr. Benham understood Dr. Blackmon wee petition-
ing the Divorce Court for a nullity of marriage is cone-
quotes of her previous marriage with Mills.
Mr. Ribton said that was so, but not a word was said
about Reeve. In point of fact, when she married Mills she
was not aware that he had a wife living. Conmeaestly
that marriage was invalid. Under all these eiremostaans
he thought • further remand should be panted.
Mr. Benham told him there was no nostift fur that,
as the case was complete. He therefore codild bet 8*
the Central Criminal Court for trial, and envied bail for
her anemones
- -

bed obtained bar VAN by fraud. Ha bad 10 winnows.,
1
to call. _

Mr. Maelema mid he wu prepared with 'Adams to
show that. the eemplainant had takes a most active part
la the
def e
t.
seemialone outrage sommkssd upon NMI husband of
the endan
Mr. Hervey, ad Memphis, meskinist, was than called.
lie mid he was pees,. si• the mostang, and when the
&iv. Mr. Davies went on to the platform to propose en
amendment, the complainant rushed up and struck him in
the ribs. The complaissat afterwards joined in the
m6l6e, and several parsons then *truck at Kr. Devise, on
using which the defendant went to probe! her Mobbed,
and shielded him from a blow sued by the complainant.
Ia answer to a question, the witness said be saw the
defendant loam her scat and place herself between hiss
husband and the complainant sad ward cif the blow.
Kr. Pattieon, on hearing tide, iminsodistely dismimed
the MOUIOIIII, and s p d a certificate to prevent any fu-
ture proceedings being taken in the matter.