The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-27 00:00:00

ZAW iITTELtIGENCE,---(This Day.)

COURT OF DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary and a Common Jury.)
FERNLEY Y. FERNLEY AND NAYLOR.

This was a suit entertained by Mr. Charles Fernley, a
surgeon, residing at Denton, Lincolnshire, for a dissolution
of marriage on the ground of his wife's adultery with the
co-respondent, Mr. Thomas H. Naylor, a barrister, well-
known on the Northern Circuit. The respondent pleaded
denial and cruelty and recriminated the charge of adultery,
and the co-respondent merely pleaded denial.
Mr. Keene stated the case. The petitioner had been a
widower with a family, and engaged the respondent, whose
maiden name was Onion, to instruct his children, and he
eventually married her in April, 1818. Shortly afterwards
he discovered that she had ceased those qualities which had
attracted him, and her conduct was of a description that
induced him in 1852 to separate from her, in order to pro-
tect his business and to prevent his children suffering
from her misconduct. Up to this period there was no
ground for any charge of infidelity. On leaving
him the petitioner made his wife an allowance. She went
first to Ely and then to Cambridge, where she took a house
and professed herself desirous of receiving pupils; but, if it
were necessary he could prove she behaved herself there
badly. She remained at Cambridge from 1856 to 1859,
when she removed to London, and took up her residence for a
short time at Ball' s-pond,where her husband communicated.
She afterwards went to live at Upper Holloway without her
her husband's knowledge, and then she was visited by the
ao-respondent. The learned counsel concluded by reading
letters from the respondent to her husband soliciting
assistance.

Elizabeth Stevens, a domestic servant in the service of
Mr. and Mrs. Fernley, said her mistress used to treat her
husband kindly at first, but eventually she began to quarrel
and fight him. She had seen her pull his hair violently,
and otherwise ill-treat him. She saw her throw a glass at
him, and on another occasion she gave him something
which she got out of the surgery, which made him
very ill. She used to kick her husband out of bed,
and on many occasions he had to threaten to break open
the bedroom door before she allowed him to enter.
Cross-examined-w• She did not know how old Mrs. Fernley
was at this time. She could not say whether she was more
than 16, all she did know was that she was her mistress.
(Laughter.)
Charles Coffin, had seen Mrs. Fernley hold her hand in
her husband's face. He never complained of her cruelty.
Mr. Hewitt, a draper at Grantham, said, on one occasion,
when he was trying to persuade Mrs. Fernley to become
reconciled to her husband, despite their disparity of years,
she replied, " I love Jim Brewster's little finger better than
my husband's whole body." He asked her how it was she
married Mr. Fernley, and she said it was out of revenge
for having been disappointed. Mr. Fe rnley had a son 22
years of age, and the respondent was only 19.
Alice Smith said she knew the second Mrs. Fernley. She
and her husband used to quarrel very much, and on one
occasion she saw her take his plate up while he was at
dinner and throw it into the fire. She had heard Mrs.
Fernley say she could never stick to her husband.
Elizabeth Riley, a married woman, said she was the
daughter of Mr. Pluck, the landlord of the Dolphin, at
Cambridge. In 1858 she went as a pupil to Mrs. Fernley's
school, at 16, Trumpington-street, but she returned to her

father's in March of the same year. Whilst she was there
several of the milder graduates used to visit Mrs. Fernley.
The witness mentioned the names of some of them. She
saw one of them kiss Mrs. Fernley and put his hand
on her bosom. He said he loved her, and would marry
her if she could get a divorce. She had seen Mrs. Fernley
kiss that gentleman; and witness went with her to his
rooms at the university. Mrs. Fernley told her she had
been out with him alone, and that while she; was living at
Ely some of the gentlemen visited and stayed at her
place all night. One of them, she said, admired her
bedstead very much. (Laughter.) She recollected a
gentleman giving Mrs. Fe rnley a pair of gloves, because
he had offended her. She went into her sitting room on
one occasion and found her there with a gentleman. She
was very much confused, because she (witness) came in
unawares. The gentleman called Mrs. Fernley " Annie."
She saw on another occasion a gentleman sitting in a very
indelicate manner with Mrs. Fernley on the sofa, but she
seemed to treat the matter as fun and laughed at it.
Cross examined—Mrs. Fernley had to summon her father

for her last quarter's tuition. She was only there a few
days, and she wanted to be paid for three months. She
did not know her father's defence.
The sister of the last witness said she frequently saw
university men at Mrs, Fernley's. She had seen Mr. Mins
kiss Mrs Fernley, and also seen him put his arm round her
neck and tell her that he loved her. Sometimes she took
these familiarities kindly.
Cross-examined—She did not know all the young men
who visited Mrs. Fernley's wero what is called lively yotog
men. (Laughter.) On the occasions she had seen them
she used to visit her sister at Mrs. Fernley's seminary. She
had met Mr. Rayner, one of the gentlemen she had seen at
Mrs. Fernley's, but she had never entered into familiar
conversation with him.

Joseph Jennings, residing at Highgate-hill. He knew
Mrs. Fernley when she came to London from Cambridge.

She came to his place,and said she was about to take a

house in the neighbourhood, and eventually she did so. He
supposed she used the name of Fernley. His family did
not visit her. Her first house was exactly opposite his, but
the next one she took was not so near. He had seen Mr.
Naylor twice going in the direction of Mrs. Fomley's house,
but he could not say he went there. Mr. Naylor was
pointed out to hint at Cambridge, and he recognised him.
During the last twelve months he had celled once on wit-
ness, but he could not recollect what was talked about, as it
was a long. time ago.
Ada Desborough said she lived at Crouch .end, Hornsey.
Her mother had formerly lived at the house of a Mrs.
Furget at Holloway. She went on a visit to her mother,
and on that occasion she saw the lady. The person pointed
out in court (Mrs. Fernley) was that person. She saw a
gentleman with her—he had a long beard, and he was now
present in court.
Hannah Little, mother of the last witness, said in 1860

she was in the service of a lady named Turget for about five
months. She left it in November of the same year. While
she was with her Mr Naylor used to visit her mistress fre-

quently. Some times he used to stop all night, on
which occasion ho occupied the room over the parlour, and
Mrs. Furget the little room at the back of the house. She
recollected having to get up at 6 o'clock one morning to
make coffee him. She was in the habit of taking up his
boots. One morning when she went up he was not there.
The bed appeared to have been slept in, but he was not in

the room. She made some observations about the state of
Mrs. Furget's bed on this occasion, when she said the little
dog had done it. She could not say how often Mr. Naylor
slept in the house, but when he left he sometimes left a
sovereign on the mantel-shelf,
Cross-examined—There were 10 rooms in the house, and
Mrs, Furget used to sleep in the little room on the second
floor, at the top of the house. Mr. Naylor used the front
room on the first floor. He did not come as a lodger. He
always occupied the same bed-room, but did not know that
a room was set apart for his papers . Whenever he brought
any papers with him he always took them away with him
in the morning when he went out.
The case is not likely to be concluded to-day,