The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-29
UNIQUE Law SUIT IN ENGLAND.
A, Attempt to Defamc the Character OF a
Deceased other-Hemarkabie Memory
Off Two-and-a. sIf-Y Year Old Chiid.

TW0-nnd-Hshnlt-t rear Via thttus
A case Of special interest, vane against
vane, came on to he heard before the British
Vice Chancellor Sir Richard Mslins on Nov.
H. The plaintiff, Frederick vane, sues hts
nephew. the present Baronet Sir Henry Ralph
vaue. from whom he seeks to obtain the Vane
estates valued at about 10000 per onnum; and
the whole case turns on the Legitimacy Of the
defendants father, Sir Francis, who died In 1872.
The plaintiff who IL a brother OF Sir Fran
oils, asserts that the latter was not born In
lawful wedlook, aud that he himself
IL entitled to the property "a the eld-
est legitimate son Of Sir Frederick Vane,
who married Han nah Bowerbank on March Q.
1877. Before their marriage. two children were
born to them, and 4 appenrs that the late SIR
Francis was born In March. 1897, but whether he
was born twenty DAYS alter the marriage OF
few days before is the main question In the I'LL
cation. lie was baptized at the church OF st.
George the Martyr on Aor l6 1871, and the bap-
tismal entry IN the churcn reg ster now rcacs
81 10 s,r FsedereE FecSer and Hannah Vane
Great Ormsted street 1t IL claimed, however,
that this entry us originally made was
,ampered with. the words and figures p" born
March ~, 17g7, being subsequently added. Ten
years later in 1907. the plaintiff In THIS suit was
his brother's llegtimacy until 1865 when I'll
latters widow, Lady DIANA be.uclerc Nane.told
Dowerbank. died in December, 1898, at tue age
Of %. Most of the witnesses called by the
plaintiff the other day were ola servants VINO
testified us to admissions made by the cd
lady That her son Francis was not born In law
ful wedlOck.
MT. Gillbanks. justice Of the peace, testified
In regord to conversation between his father
and Sir Frederick. which took place before the
marriage Of his son Francis to Diana Beauclerce.
In 1873. The Vice. Chancellor, pointing out that
the witness must at that time have been Just
two years aud Ave months old, said that there
never was such a thing since the world was
creai ed, and never Will be, as a boy OF that age
remembering all this. He severely reprimanded
the witness, and Informing him that he should
reject his evidence. ordered him to retire.
Alter several otner witnesses had been exam
lned. the plaintiff was PUT on the Stand.
Tue defence rely to some extent on the TACT
that as far back az May, Ice. a bill was fled In
the Court OF ChhnceTy to perpctuate testimony
to the effect that Francis NaDe was born after
the marriage OF his parents and was therefore
the hrst legitimate son and heir apparent OF sir
Frederick. THIS suit was Instituted because Tor
tour years after their marriage Sir Frederick
bau Kept his wife and three children away from
their Cumberland home at plH IN the vicinity
OF London. Distinguished counsel are engaged
In the cause, Sergeant Balentlne leading the
John HOiker, with others, appearing for the
defendants. II In hardly probable that the
plaintiff will succeed In impeaching his nephew 5
title IS II would be rather harsh - declare n
man illesltinate who died tntrty-fo ur years ago
unless the evidence was most convincing: aud
thus far II has consisted almost entirely OF either
hoarsny OF ADMISSIONS made by Lady Nane In
her extreme old age. luis painful litigation
shows now much trouble man can IN he for
his descendants II he outs of tbs ~ arriage until
tue same month III witch bis child Is bern.