The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-06 00:00:00

COURT OF DIVORCE.

(Before the Right Hon. Sir J. P. Wilde and a Special
Jury.)
WOOD T. WOOD AND STANGER-DAMAGES £5,000.
This was a suit for dissolution of marriage, sought by
the husband on the ground of his wife's adultery with the
co-respondent. Both the respondent and co-respondent ap-
peared, and answered, denying the adultery, and the peti-
tioner claimed £5,000 damages.
Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., Dr. Spinks, Q.C., Mr. Sergeant
Tindal Atkinson, and Mr. Weightman appeared for the
petitioner; and Dr. Wambey and Mr. Langdon represented
respondent ; the Queen's Advocate and Mr. Searle were
counsel for the corespondent.
The pleadings stated that Mr. Henry Walter Wood was
the petitioner, Frances Mary Wood, was the respondent,
and George Eato❑ Stanger, the co-respondent.
Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., in opening the case, stated that
the petitioner, Mr. Wood, was an architect and surveyor,
residing at Nottingham, and the respondent, whose maiden
name was Crofts, was the daughter of a large lace manu-
facturer at Lenten, in Nottiugham,liire, and the co-re-
spondent was a surgeon in extensive pract:co and a prin-
cipal deacon of the Independent chapel. The latter had
been a friendof the respondent's all hor life, and had visited
at her father's house since she was a child. He was also
the medical adviser and trusted friend. The mar-
riage took place on the 21st of May, 1857, at
Sneaton, the petitioner being between 30 and 31 years
of age, and the respondent 20, the co-respondent was 50.
The marriage was one of affection. Mr. Wood was a hard-
working man, and was greatly engaged in his business.
His usual habit was to visit his office, which was some
distance from his house, remain there till he came back to
dinner; he then went away again, and usually returned
home finally at about nine o'clock. Very soon after her
marriage Mrs. Wood became pregnant, and Mr. Stanger
attended her in her confinement. Shortly after that a
slight cloud, and a very slight cloud it was, overshadowed
their happiness ; it was with regard to Mrs. "Wood's
expensive habits. In the course of the year after
the birth of the child Mr. Wood had supicion that his wife
had taken to drinking. Matters went on thus until 1861,
when Mrs. Wood became ill, and was attended by Mr.
Stanger, and from that time, in doors and out doors, he
was constantly with her, used to take her out in his car-
riage, and be about with her in the most improper manner.
In 1863 she went with her husband to London, and instead
of returning with him she went to Davenport to spend
Some time with Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wood, who were,
he believed, actors there. During the time she stayed there
a number of affectionate letters were written by her to her
husband, and forgiving and generous ones from her husband.
Soon after her arrival there the mother of the petitioner
was taken ill, and Mr. Arthur Wood was obliged to go
to Nottingham to see her. Mrs. Wood accompanied him
home, leaving Mr. Arthur Wood behind. She in
opening a drawer found a letter, which he (the
learned counsel) would read to them. The letter
was couched in terms of the deepest affection, the co-
respondent addressing the respondent as "Dearest," and
"My pet," "Dearest Fanny," "Devoted George," and re-
gretting the pain that her absence caused him, and also
expressed an alarm at "the home officers" who resided at
Devonport. " This letter," said the learned counsel in
continuance, "was perhaps improperly withheld from
the petitioner, and also from the knowledge of his wife,
and it was not till two years after that the petitioner be-
came aware of it. Continued quarrels took place between
the parties relative to the extravagance of the respon-
dent, and finally from some rumours which he had
heard the petitioner ordered the co-respondent not to
come to the house. The co-respondent asked for an
explanation, which was met with the answer that it was
sufficient that the visits of the guest had become disagree-
able. Some further correspondence took place, and finally
Mrs. Wood left her husband's house, and took a situation
as a governess, where she still remains. This suit was
then instituted.

Mrs. Sqllory stated that the 'coalitioner had always be-
haved with the greatest affection towards his wife. In
witness's opinion, although respondent pretended to be in
ill-health, and was very fastidious, she was always in
robust health, and of a good constitution, and did not re•
quire tho constant attendance of Dr. Stanger.

Elizabeth Watson stat ed that she had lived with Mr
and Mrs. Wood as servant from January; 1857, till June
1858. During that time Dr. Stanger had been a continual
visitor at the house. He used to come when
Mr. Wood left, and go up to Mrs. Wood's bed-
room. Sho showed him up there, but :never entered
as well. He would remain two hours. The dinin g-room
door would be locked when the doctor was there. On one
occasion Mrs. Wood had her hair dressed, and put on a
fresh muslin dress when she went to see the doctor, and
remained locked up with him is the dining-room,
and when she came upstairs again her hair was
down, and her dress much rumpled. On the oc-

casion of a party at Mr. Wood's, witness, on—lo;1;-
ing over the hilustrades, saw Dr. Stranger kissing
Mrs. Wood between the drawing-room and dining-room
doors. Witness used to visit Mrs. Wood after she left the
service, and on one occasion respondent complained
that a servant named Lydia -Ponson had been over
and asked witness to go to her. Site subiecriently saw the
respondent and Lydia Ponson together, when the former
went down upon her knees and asked Lydia to forgive her,
The latter called;hor a bad name, and slid fele that she had
had enough of her goings on, and that no servant of
good character could remain in the house, and
that she should go to the office and tell Mr. Wood.
Mrs. Wood said that she would rather pay Ponson a month's
wages than she should say any thing to Mr. Wood.
Cross-examined —Witness had not tried to get Mrs.
Wood and Dr. Stranger to be security for her husband.
The case was not concluded when we went to press.