The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY) i VVENING, NOVEMBER -12, 1862.

LAW---THIS DAY•

THE SHOREDITCH VESTRY AND ITS

CONTRACIOR.

COURT OF DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
LEE V. LEE AND DREW.

EXTRAORDINARY INQUIRY.

Last evening Mr. Winn, contractor for the scavengers'
work to the parish of Shoreditch, was summoned to appear
before the vestry to answer complaints made against certain
of his men for sweeping mud and filth down a number of
gully holes.

This was a petition presented by the husband praying for
dissoluLion of his marriage with the respondent, on the
ground of adultery. rho co •respondent in his answer
pleaded that the petitioner deserted his wife.
The marriage took place in the year 1836, at Bristol, and
for some time the parties lived comfortably together. A
separation eventually took place. and finally the respondent
went to live with the corespondent, who kept a spirit store
in Milk-street, Bristol.
The case was adjourned for further evidence relative to
the identity of the person married to petitioner.

Mr. Beard attended on behalf of Mr. Winn; and the
Vestry-hall was crowded, as this matter has excited a con-
siderable interest.

As a preliminary step, the vestry refused to hear Mr.
Beard, who, after protesting, left the hall with his client.
The first witness called was Wm. Green, a carman in
Bear-lane, Blackfriars, who had forwarded nine informa-
tions to the vestry, a reward of Ll having been offered for
such informations as might come under the notice of any
person. Witness described that at four o'clock on the
morning of the 31st ult. he (in company with one Mayhew
and a police-officer) witnessed the men employed by Mr.
Winn sweep large quantities of mud, filth, and slush down
several gully holes from the Cherry Tree, Kingsland-road,
to Church-street, Shoreditch. He knew that the plan was
largely practised, and when witness saw there was .C 1 re-
ward in the case he went out on purpose to get up the
complaint,

'WALLACE V. WALLACE.
This was a petition presented by the wife for
judicial separation, on the ground of adultery, committed by
the respondent at various times and places from the year
1854 down to the time of separation, which took place in
May, 1861.
Dr. Phillimore (Queen's Advocate) said the marriage,
which was a clandestine ono, took place in the month of
Oct., 1849, the lady at that time being 20 years of Age, and
the respondent, who was the son of a conveyancer, being
about the same age. Although cruelty was alleged in the
petition, they did not intend to proceed with that part of
the case.

Several of the vestrymen, Me srs.Enoch,Walker, Sarson,
Deakin, Owen, Pearce, and others, examined this witness,
who said it was a drizzling morning, and that Mr. Winn
had been over to his (witness's) place to try and " square
him up."

Mrs. Coleman, the mother of the petitioner, said the re-
spondent called on her a short time after his marriage with
her daughter, but she refused to see him. After the mar-
riage the parties resided at Wimborne until 1853; after
that at Lyme Regis. The only place she had seen them
living at after that was at Salisbury ; but they had occa-
sionally visited at her (witness's) house. She never saw
them for more than half an hour together, and therefore
she could not speak to the terms upon which they lived.
Two letters signed George Wallis were here put in and
read ; one admitted adultery having been committed at
Wimborne and Lyme Regis, and making certain offers for
an arrangement, and the other attributed all his defections
" to fast company and beer."
The witness said the letters were in the handwriting of
the person who had married her daughter.
Jane Hodder said she knew the respondent, while he
resided at Charmouth. She then formed an acquaintance
with him, and familiarities had taken place between them
near the church there; after which he gave her 2s. 6d.
She had had intercourse with the respondent on two other
occa,ions. She saw him again in the spring of the present
year, and having received some money from him he had
intercourse with her. She saw him last Saturday at
Salisbury, when he gave her some wine, and asked her not
to say anything against him.
By Sergeant Ballantine, for the respondent--She was
asked about the matter by:a Mr. Tucker. He sent for her,
and then she told him all about it.

Robert Mayhew said he accompanied the last witness,
and they started from Blackfriars-road a iittle before two in
the morning. This witness described nine offences, and
stated that he saw Mr. Winu's men sweep filth down a
gulley named Betsey. (Roars of laughter.)
By the Vestry—l am a sun eyor. I and Green never
lost each other. [The witness then stated that he had lost
a good situation through Mr. Winn, and described how
when tenders were sent there was to be a "knock out," in
whichfictitious, or rather hopeless, tenderers were to parti-
cipate. Witness claimed £2d from Mr. Winn, and had re-
ceived £1 on account. Winn told witness that he wanted
Dodd's prices, and supposed he could get them from some
of the vestrymen. After detailing a little scandal which
caused some excitement in the parish at the time, witness
retired.

204 H was then called, and in answer to Mr. Church-
warden Hughes, who was in the chair, he detailed four or
five offences, and stated that in one case the smell was most
offensive. For every scoopfull that went into the cart, at
least 20 went down the gully. (Sensation.) There were
three carts loaded that morning.

Mr. Jackson—Three carts loaded and CO put down the
gullies would make an awfully slushy road.
Witness—lt had rained very hard all night. I did not
repot t what 1 saw, as other people had it in hand, but I was
wrong in not reporting it. I have not been ineruoted by
my superior officer to watch the scavengers, but after this
inquiry no doubt I shall be. _ _

Mr. Edward Caldow, superintendent of the police at
Salisbury—Knew the respondent. He had known him for
the last two years and a half, and he was continually drunk,
He saw him at Salisbury fair in 1861 in company with two
prostitutes.

Mr. Enoch Walker—We have shut out Mr. Winn's
evidence, and I now move that he be summoned to the
Worship-street Police-court to answer to this complaint.
Mr. Deakin—l second that.

- Sergeant Macduff, of the Salisbury police, also knew Mr.
Wallace. He had seen him in different public-houses as
late as three o'clock in the morning. On one occasion he
saw him with a female, who he said was Ruth Worth, and
who, he said, the parties for the petition had so much to
say about. Wallace said to the woman, "You be a brick,
and don't tell them anything about the matter."

Mr. Pearce said the Vestry had the power to fine the
contractor. (No, no.)
Mr. Davis (the Vestry Clerk) then read the clause in
the Act of Parliament, which clearly laid down that the
fines are only recoverable before a police magistrate, and
he (Mr. Davis) thought it would have been much better to
have gone there in thti first instance.
Mr. Owen thought the matter ought to be fully inquired
into here, and he should oppose its being removed or got rid
of by a side wind. It was a most serious charge, and one
closely affecting the healths of the public, and he insisted
upon a full explanation.
The matter was then adjourned (having lasted over two
hours) for a week, but the attendance of a legal gentleman
for each would very much simplify the inquiry.

Mary Hayes,. a servant at Somerset Hotel, Weymouth,
in 1861, said she recollected a gentleman bringing a lady
there. They slept there two nights, occupying the same
bedroom. Mr. Wallace was the man, but Mrs. Wallace
was not the female.

Mr. George Board, proprietor of the hotel, gave similar
evidence.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine said he was not in a position to
either answer or shake the evidence that had been given,
and as the charge of cruelty had been withdrawn he should
offer no resistance to the present application.
The Court decreed judicial separation.
Dr. Phillimore said there would be an application for
alimony, and the custody of the child.
The Judge-Ordinary directed the child to remain in the
custody of the mother until further orders of the Court.

POLICE-THIS DAY.