The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-21 00:00:00

A VERY SINGULAR CASE.

She has married a woman. Such is the position of a
plaintiff before a law-court of Santiago, in Chili. The wife
has sued for a divorce, founding her application on the
simple fact that her husband is of the same sex as herself.
This was enough to procure a divorce, but not enough to
create an embarrassing law-case ; and yet the bench of
Santiago is sorely puzzled over the :natter. It was easy to
separate husband and wife; but how about the property?
The one of the two ladies who undertook the part
of husband had married the other for her money and for
her prospects. She was in the habit of frequenting the
baths of Celina for the purpose of selling fresh eggs and
other such commodities to the world of fashion who
seek health and repose in that watering-place. The
police had watched the egg-seller, and noticed that he
or she always wore a cloak, and that on no account was
it ever put aside. Otherwise, the egg-seller's dress and
gait were that of a man. On the other hand, the
wife of this singular mato is of a simplicity and
innocence so great that for some time after the
marriage she had no suspicion as to the nullity of her hus-
band's pretensions. In the meantime Madame the hus-
band, in all the pride of manhood, employed herself busily
in making purchases and contracts in her wife's name
and with her wife's marriage portion. Now the question
arises whether the wife should be responsible for the
debts incurred by the husband while managing her
affairs. There is another question also what
punishment should be inflicted on the husband
for contempt of law and for forgery committed in signing
the marriage contract and other documents under an
assumed sex ? The legal aspects of the case may bo left to
the learned magistrates of Santiago. We are content to
pay our tribute of respect to the sweet innocence of the
wife who knew no better, and to recommend the ambition
of the would-be husband to the serious contemplation of
the more uncompromising assertors of women's rights.—
Daily News.

I'IIE LIVERPOOL POLICE AND BETTING(

CL

A few days since the Liverpool police very suddenly and
unexpectedly made a descent upon a bcttiug club in the
town, and captured the proprietor and se; cral of the
3eribersr. After two remands, the magistrates cn Wednes-
day terminated the case, so far as they are e)ncernc..l.
Eight persons were brought up, ono being a person named
France, who keeps a public-house in Rainford-gardens,
s.nd connected with it is a large room uold by the
members of the " Alliance Club," many clerks and young
lads, who used the room for the purpose of betting upon
horse races. There were in all upwards of two hundred
subscribers to the club. It was proved that seven of thd
defendants brought up on Wednesday were bookmakers
and listkeepers, and constantly acted as such at the
Alliance; while France was charged with knowingly per-
mitting the room to be used for betting purposes ; but here
the case failed, and he was then charged with acting
in the management of it. It was, however, proved that
the defendants were almost daily in the habit of attending
the room, where they had stands with betting lists upon
them, and that the frequenters of the place were in the
habit of betting with thcm. It was also shown that each
of them paid £l2 a year for the use of his stand. The
only evidence against Franco was that of an informer
named Morris, who had acted as door-keeper at the room,
but the Bench declined to convict upon his testimony,
One of the defendants, named Simpson, 'vas ordered to
pay a fine of £lOO, or to go to prison for six months;
and four others, named Smith, Clarkson, Farrel, and
Roach, were fined Z 5 each, with the option of going
to prison for four months. The other defendants,
whose names are Edward and Alfred Ford, were also
punished as follows : the former by a fine of £5O,
or three months' imprisonment ; the latter by a fine of
£25 or two months' imprisonment. The magistrates also
stated that if any other case of the same kind were brought
before them, they would give the offenders absolute im-
prisonment without the option of paying a fine. The de-
fendants' advocates gave notice of appeal, and the accused
were liberated on entering into substantial recognisances.
The proceedings lasted several hours, and many legal gen-
tlemen were engaged in the case.

Amongst the presents destined by the Sultan for
the Empress Eugenie is said to be a splendid Turkish
sabre, set with jewels, for the Prince Imperial.
THE CATTLE DISEASE.—The foot and mouth
disease is reported to prevail in farms at Great Harwood,
Samlesbury, and Osbaldeston, though the disease is not of
a serious nature. At the Haslingden Petty Sessions, a
farmer, named James Horrocks has been fined £2 and costs
for having some sheep suffering from scab without inform-
ing the police. They were among healthy sheep. Horrocks
was fined £lO in 1866 for a similar offence regarding
cattle.

TIER MAJESTY AND THE SICK IN ORATHIE.—It
is currently reported in Crathie, on what is believed to be
good authority that her Majesty is to have a medical
practitioner stationed in Crathie. No doubt her Majesty
in the course of her visits among the people of tho dis-
trict has become aware of the great want that is felt in
in cases of sudden illness, or
this respect, more especially
during the prevalence of a heavy snow storm—persons in
want of a doctor having to send to Braemar, a distance
of nine miles. Should a medical man be stationed in the
place, as reported, it will be recognised by the inhabi-
tants in the district as a great boom—Dundee Advertiser.
ESCAPE OF A FENIAN PRISONER FROM WESTERN
At rrnALTA.—John Boyne O'Reilly, one of the Fenian
prisoners transported to Western Australia, sends to the
Irishmen the following narrative of his escape from that
settlement :—On the 18th February I escaped, seized a
boat, and went to sea, but had to return to land in the
morning. I then lived in the "bush" for some time, and
eventually put out to sea again, and before long was picked
up by an American whaler. When the captain knew who
and what I was ho installed me cabin passenger, and as
he was on a six months' cruise for whales, I remained on
beard for that time, and every day had a fresh instance of
his kindness, and of the officers and all on board. I had
some very close escapes from beinf; retaken, but the
officers were determined. I should no ; and in one English
island at which wo touched, the governor came on board,
and demanded me to be given up, as he had instructions
that I was on board. The chief mate answered him.
by pointing to the " stars and stripes," which floated
at the "half mast "—in sign of mourning—and said, " I
know nothing of any convict' named O'Reilly, who
esoapod from Now Holland; but I did know Mr. O'Reilly,
who was a political prisoner there, and ho was on beard
this ship, but you cannot see him—ho is dead ;" and the
goysruos,WPAl forced 44 14 ccatout with that lawmaking
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