The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-21
THE BRITISH MEssAL1NA.
Mrs. Crawford Smilingly Reiterates the Story
of Her Liaison with Dixie.

Mrs. Crawford Smilingly Reiterates the Story
of Her Liaison with Dixie.
LONDON, July 20-Evidence given to-day in
the trial of the Crawford divorce case showed
clearly that Mrs. Crawford had been guilty of
adultery with Captain Forster Mrs. Crawford
took the stand, and declared that her confession
to her husband was true. She swore that she
often visited Sir Charles Diike's house, and Sir
Charles had opened the door and conducted her
to a bedroom. Mrs. Crawford explained her
conduct by saying that she never loved her hus
band, who, she declared, was all the
time suspecting her. She had not, she
continued, spoken to her mother for three years.
She married Mr.. Crawford because at homo she
was miserable. She retold the story of her deg
radiation by Fanny" in pretty much the same
terms as those used by her in her confession. To-
days evidence was decidedly the most interest
ing yet given. Mrs. Crawford confessed that she
disliked her husband because he was too old;
that she loved Forster because he was
handsome and pleasing and that she COM
mitted adultery with him for the purpose of
obtaining divorce from her hated husband. She
spared Forster as far as possible. because she
knew he was about to marry. Under a strict
had committed adultery only with Dixie
and Forster, exculpatng two other socie-
ty men. A remarkable feature was
that when Mrs. Crawford was asked some ques-
tions, for instance. with regard to French vice,
adultery, ETC., she answered with the utmost
calmness, "Yes, yes." and even smiled, showing
that she was naturally an utterly abandoned
woman. who rather gloried in her shame Mrs.
Crawford spoke in soft, pleading tones, damag
ing Dixie without exculpating herself.
The avidAnca given to-day nroducad daon i'm
preston It's drectness clearness and circum-
stantial minuteness convinced all of its truth.
Dilkes refusal to deny liaison with Mrs Craw-
ford's mother is attributed to the open nature of
the scandal rendering denial impossible. The
conduct of Mrs. Crawford and her two sisters in
court was marked by unseemly levity, laughing
and talking together.
Mrs. Rogerson's maid testified as to the init
macies of Forster and Mrs. Crawford at the
Rogerson residence; also, that Dilke's solicitor
asked her to give evidence, and paid her ex-
penses, and that she received letters from Dixie,
but destroyed them
Mrs. Crawford described in detail two visits to
Warren street. She said Dixie told her that an
old servant kept the house. and that lie used it
when he required it. She paid numerous visits
to Dilke's residence in the forenoon. Dixie
watched from the conservatory for her arrival,
and sometimes opened the door for her. He
always had gloves and hat He took her
from the drawing-room to the bedroom, which
she accurately described. The visits were of
fifteen minutes duration. Dixie leaving first and
Sarah letting her out when the coast was clear.
No other servants saw her. On two occasions
she spent the night in the house. The first time.
Dixie met her in an adjacent street and entered
the house with a latch key. The second time
Sarah admitted her. On both occasions she left
early in the morning. She confirmed the details
of Fanny's statement. Dixie told her that
Sarah had been his mistress; also, that Fanny
was admitted nightly by Sarah. and left in the
morning. She admitted that she had affection
for Dixie. She denied that she wrote the anony
nous letters.