The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-03 00:00:00

THE STN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY .3, 1868.

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LAW INTELLIGENCE.-1 Ws I ay.

THE COUNTESS D'ALTEYR,AC AND LORD
WILLOUGHBY D'ERESBY.

The Court of Queen's Bench was densely crowded this
morning long before the usual hour for the- commence-
ment of business. The action brought by the Countess
d'Alteyrac against Loid Willoughby d'Eresby, Hereditary
Great Chamberlain of England, was a part-heard case
from Saturday. It was for the wrongful conversion of
certain household furnituie, plate, china, &c.,
which the countess claimed as her own. The parties
had lived together as man and wife for a number of
years, and for some time up till the end of 1864 they had
resided at Caen Lodge, r"wickenham, close to Richmond
Bridge, but from that time they had ceased the cohabits
tion, the defendant separating from the countess, and they
had never met since. The defendant had sold all the fur-
niture in Caen Lodge, the greater portion of which the
countess claimed as hers, and for the value of which the
present action was brought.
Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., and Mr. Philbrick appeared for
tne plaintiff ; Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. J. 0. Griffits
were for the defendant.

The Lord Chief Justice having taken his seat, Mr.
Coleridge, after conferring with Mr. Hawkins, handed to
his lordship the terms for a reference which had been come
to between the parties litigant. Both learned counsel
concurred in wishing the Chief Justice to name a gentle-
man to whom the dispute might be referred ; and although
his lordship would have preferred that they had them-
selves agreed upon some one. he consented to carry out
their suggestion.
Mr. Hawkins : Before tnis case closes I wish to say a
word on behalf of Lord Willoughby d'Eresby. My friend's
case has been opened to the jury, and the plaintiff has
been examined. Now, I need hardly say that Lord Wil-
loughby weuld not have defended this case if he had not
taken a different view of it to that which has been pre-
sented by the plaintiff. His lordship has never been un-
willing to make an allowance to the countess sufficient for
her future maintenance, but the terms have been
so large which the countess and her friends asked, that
it was impossible for the noble defendant to accede
to them. The case, however, is now terminated, Lord
Willoughby having done that which from the first it
appeared to me he should have done; viz., to refer it to
some gentleman, of honour to say what, as a matter of
honour and regardless of the law, should be done between
the parties. Lord' Willoughby's case has not been pre-
sented to the jury. I have abstained from saying one
syllable disrespectful of the lady, and I have only endea-
voured to conduct the case in accordance with Inv in-
structions. •

The Lord Chief Justice : The termination is satisfactory.
I can only wish it had been done sooner.
Mr. Coleridge : On behalf of the plaintiff I am glad to
find that Lord Willoughby has at last acceded to the view
of his counsel, which he ought to have done long and
long ago. On the part of the plaintiff I respectfully tender
my thanks for the manner in which your lordship has ex-
pressed your opinion upon this case.
Mr. Hawkins : I have also to thank your lordship on
nehalf of Lord Willoughby, and on my own behalf I am
extremely grateful to your lordship for having expressed
your view of,the case. The suggestion thrown out by your
lordship on Saturday has brought about this settlement.
The Lord Chief Justice : I am very glad if I have been
in any way instrumental in bringing about what I am
satisfied is the right result, and will prove a satisfactory
termination of the case.

The parties then withdrew, having first signed the
terms of reference.

THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE.—The Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council commenced their sittings this day,
under the presidency of Lord Justice Cairns. There were
also present Sir James Colville, Sir E. V. Williams, and
Sir R. Kinciersley. Lord Westbury, it is said, will pre-
side during ppri-, of the present sitting.
BOVILL'S PATENT.—In the Court of Common Pleas, be'
fore Mr. Justice Byles and a special jury, the case of
Bovill v. Goodier was called on. It was an issue directed
by the Master of the Rolls to try the validity of the plain-
tiffs patent for an improved mode of grinding flour. The
patent was granted in 1849, and on, its expiration in 1863 it
was regranted for a period of five years. The matter has
been litigated at enormous expense for many years, and it
is believed Ur"- the present trial will not finish within the
week.