Star.
London, England, 1811-02-27 00:00:00

14W ViriLLIGENCE.

couar OF XING'S BENCH, FIB. 9s. .
CHM. CON.—DOHERTY V. WYATT.
Mr. Anozenus stated, that this was an action brought by the
plaintiff against the defendant, for criminal conversation with his
wife, and that the damages were laid at £20,000.
Mr. Getattow then addressed the Court and Jery, and ob-
served, that they had collected from the declaration the nature of
this cause. The name of Mr. Doherty was not new to them. He
bad endured the severest sufferings, and he now sought for re-
dress. Hp (Me. Garrow) was conscious of Isis inability to do
this cause sufficient justice, for it appeared that there never was a.
snore man than his client. He would not enter into a pane-
gyric on the character of MP. Doherty, however great his merits
were ; but he would date one thing to the Jury which he blamed
him for, namely, that be had married a minor without the
consent of her parents ; this was " the head and front bf his of-
fending," and no more. Although; in consistence with the les
of special pleading, £20,000 damages were lald In the decrulare=
tiou, and although, bewail convinced that even this compensation
would be too little for the injury received, yet it was not his in-
tention to ask front the Jury no
un much; It was r.ot money that
his client wanted, but an opportty" of vindicating his character,
and that of the respectable family to which he belonged. Mr.
Doherty entered the military service at an early period of life, he
was about to embark for India with the most flattering prospects,
when he was introduced ieLthis city to Miss Holmes, daughter of
the gentleman who Is now called Hunter. He admitted that the
waits of Miss Holmes were averse to.a connection with Mr.
Doherty, for she was a woman highly gifted, and one calculated
toise'the wife of any man, however exalted in rank: Her pa-
rting objected to this match, but she was enthusiastic in her love,
sr,to Make use of an expression of her owe," determined to sub-
mitt to the guidance of all-powerful love." Accordingly she es-
eloped from her father's house, but ere she had reached her lover
elle was overtaken by a servant, and compelled to return. This
circumstance affected her brain, and she was sent to a mad-house.
The Learned Counsel sincerely wished that our brave country-
men, who are now prisoners in France, would manage so well to
escape their confinement as this young creature did. She got
foto the good races of two of her female attendants, and pre-
vailed on them to procure two potions, one of which would cause
a person to sleep for twelve hours, and another for ten. She
administered these potions to them in porter, and thus effected
ber.escape. It had been said that Mr Doherty was an unkind
husband: if rumour was to, bebelieved, Mr. Doherty had little
right ,o come before the Jury, for he had been represented a, a
violent and brutal husband. He challenged his I,eartied Friend
(Mr. Attorney-General) to say whether, while Mr. D. heed
with his wife, be bad behaved* improperly to her? He would
sot, in a cause like this, bring before the Jury witnesses who had
only leen and known the parties in their holiday clothes ; no, ne
would produce the domestics of the family, who knew their every
scion; Miss Hannah Flint, too, be hoped to see brought for-
ward by the other tide. Every one of these persons would prove
that Mrs. Doherty had been well used by her husband. *Their
silica' was at first by no means flittering in worldly prospects ;
they went to Ireland, :rnd en their return from thence Were (or-
ientate enough to •be reconciled to Mr. Hunter. After this they
visited Brighton, and in October 180 S, Mr. Doherty took Laurel
Lodge, near Barnet. This place was the scene of his misfortunes.
It was here that Mr. Burke, an intimate acquaintance of Mr.
D.'s. intreduc d Mr. Wyatt. the son of his Majesty's Architect,
and a gentleman of agreeable and pleasant manners. In a short
time he became domesticated with the family, and an inmate of
the same -house. On the 25tla of May, 1206, Mrs. Doherty was
asked to her father's house; thither Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Burke
accompanied her, and there left her; from that time she never, re-
turned to her husband. Shortly after, articles of the peace were
exhibited against Mr: Doherty by the Lady's father, Mr. Hunter,
who also arrested Wm for a debt of £l4OO. In consequence of
this, Mr. D. was seem to the King's Bench, where he experienced
an the pangs which misery and injustice could inflict. Often have
I seen him, said Mr. Garrow, in this Court, during the Term,
with his interuting child, praying for that relief which unfortu-
nately he could not legally obtain; with that child, who, but for
themachinations of Mr.Wyatt,wouldhave been thebeirto splen-
did possessions; who, instead of being the inmate of a prison,
might have been reaping the advantage of an education, which
would render hint an ornament to society. Seveial times he at-
tempted to addrew this Court, but could note something was
then perceived in his demeanour, which this day would explain.
As to Mrs. Doherty, she now lives in open profligate.adultery
with Mr. Wyatt, yet this person was the friend of M-. Doherty,
and the first to exclaim against the ill usage he had experienced
from his wife. Under the feigned names of Mr. and Mrs. Da-
niels, they took lodgings, and Hannah Flint lives with them in
the capacity of servant. He would now tell the Jury who this
Hannah Flint was. Mrs. Doherty, under the protection of Mr.
Wyatt, sued in the ffcclesiastial Court fur a divorce front her
husband, on the plea of his adultery ; and with whom ? with this
Hannah Flint ! whom he had heard was to come fotward this
day, to prove that Mr. Doherty had ill used his wife; she Who
packed up the clothes fur the escape to the lodgings, and on whom
lay this bill of adultery. It appeared that Mr. Hunter had called
on his daughter in Lib carriage at these lodgings, and had brought
her front the adulterous bed to a parent's roof. Perhaps Gen-
tlemen might prove that Mr. Wyatt was not the monopolizer cf
the lady's fawner.; that was nothing to him, it was Mr. Wyatt
who took her from her parent's roof and debauched her. He
could produce letti vs which would show the veracity of this Mr.
Wyatt. If in the month of May he.(Mr. Wyatt) had been con-
scious of the improper conduct of Mr. Doherty, he should no
longer have communicated with him, yet on the 2LI of June,
1606, be wrote him a letter, beginning with—" sitar Doherty,"
and ending, " yours sincerely ;" and on the 4th of the same
month be again wrote in a.similar style. On the 6th of June,
the articles et the peace were exhibited. Mr. Wyatt knew of
this. If then he was conscious that they were founded on truth:,
if he had rerceived any thing at Laurel Lodge, he would have
been the first to disclaim the husband ; but, on the contrary, he
comes forward as his surety, which Ills letter of the Bth of June
proves, and wheels letter concludes with the words," your most
affectionate fiiend." At this very time Mr. Wyatt was engaged in
the diabolical purpose of preventing the wife from returni,e; to
her husband, ai.d of hastening her prostitution. She now, said
the I.earned Counsel, to use her own lanuage, " hollowed the
dictates of her feelings ;' but, Gentlemen of the Jury, said he,
they were not the feelings of that pure =eldest love which she
formerly expetheleed, hut of that lust which Mr. Wyatt had
excited in the breast of his victim. Still Mr. Wyatt continued
his correspondence with Mr. Doherty in the most effectionate
manner. lie would now produce to the Jury a most important
letter, which was written two years after this period, by Mr.
Wyatt to a friend of WE, and which would afford a daMnieg
proof of Mr Doherty's good conduct. The letter was dated
Feb, 12, 1808, and ran thus :
" You have stated right, that I lament my no longer enjoy-
ing Dnberty's friendship, as formerly. When I was in habits of
intimacy with DoLerty, I have ever seen him 611 CW the most
warns affection towards his wife, and the moat tender solicitude
for his !t0:1. I have experienced from hint the greatest friendship
and attention. I assure you, that I felt sorry, when, front my,
knowledge of the warmth of his temper, I was dieosed to hear
things to his discredit ; I hope he will soon be able to disprove
them." _ _ _

The object of Mr. Doherty, this day, was to meet hls adver-
sary face to face, and to urge and goad him into an inquiry. He
(Mr. Doherty) had one thwg to thank Mr. Wyatt• (or, which
was, that his (Mr. Wyatt'.) profligacy and adultery had given
n t.ppertetuity of cleating himself. The Learned Counsel had
no doubt hut that his instructions were founded on truth. Per-
haps his Learned Friend might say that Mr. Doltertl was an
Irish fortune-hunter, that he ran away with a girl, and that be-
cause another went to her bed he curie here to complain. This
was nrt the case; Mr. Doherty, like the rest of hie countrymen,
was open-hearted sod generous, and be came here to complain of
being ruined. The Learned Counsel concluded a most elpqueset
speech by informing the Jury that Ise would now produce his
witnesses, whose evidence, he trusted, would prove to them the
truth of his several allegations.
John Edwards was Brat called, who proved the marriage. of
Hugh Doherty, Esq. with Miss Holmes, in February, -1802.
John Doherty, Esq. deptised, that. be was an Irish Barrister,
and the brother of the plaintiff. He saw his brother shortly af-
ter bin marriage ; It wasin Ireland, when Mr; D. came on a visit
to his motker ; be shortly after went to his own seat, at Roch-
rifle, in the County of Wicklow. He remained about six weeks
there ; witness did mot see Mr. D. or his wife, from, that time
till the summer of 1905, when witness came berg to study at the
"Femple. At that period he saw Mr. sod Mrs. D. at their lodg-•
imp is Devonskirt-street, and at intervaisbetween that and May,
tuck, When the separation took plae ' • witness always observed
t hat the conduct of Mr. D. -was mostaffectioeate.to his wife p--
L:11. D. caustantly appested very happy. wept for the bet few

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