The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-24
Sir Charles Orders His Property Sold,
and Will Leave England Forever.
lie Protests Against the Manner in Which
the Trial Was Conducted and Again AS
serts His uncomfortable Notes.
dixie BEATEN.
The Jury Afiirms the Former Decision, and
Mr.. Crawford Is Granted Divorce.

finding Mrs. Crawford guilty of adultery with
Sir Charles Dixie. and granting Mr. Crawford a
divorce The jury were absent twenty minutes
only. The decision arrived at by the jury is
that Mr.. Crawford is entitled to divorce from
his wife on the ground of adultery with Sir
Charles Dixie, as decided nisi by Justice Sir
Charles Butt OH Feb. II last, the present case
being simply rehearing, at the intervention of
the Queens proctor. for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether the decree nisi should not be set
aside on the ground of collision between Mr.
and Mrs. Crawford, or on new evidence invali-
dating the wife's confession. The jury finding
in favor of Mr. Crawford, the proceeding con-
firms the previous decree and makes it absolute
at the expiration of the six months attaching to
it. Fhis six months will expire on Aug IL. the
decree nisi having been issued on Feb II The
Queens proctor has been condemned to pay the
costs of che present proceeding.
In his closing argument, Sir Walter Philli-
more, for the Queens proctor, urged the jury to
believe that Mrs. Crawford's whole confession
was concocted for the purpose of shielding Capt
Foster.
Justice Hannen. in summing up the case for
the jury, laid stress upon Sir Charles Dilke's alb
sention from testifying in the former trial
This silence the Judge said, had the effect of
suggesting that Sir Charles was guilty of the
charges he refrained from denying. "Would
you, gentlemen Of the jury" asked the judge,
''remain silent, even under the advice of coun-
sci, when tissue of falsehood was told against
you. seriously affecting your moral characterP
Justice Hannen's charge, from beginning to
end was decidedly against Sir Charles Dixie.
The Justice alluded to the absence from the tes-
timony of confirmation of essential points of
Dilkes story as certainly remarkable" while
Mrs. Crawford was able to describe accurately
the bedroom in Sir Clarles's house in which she
said he spoiled her, although he swore that he
had never taken her into the house Besides
this, the evidence given by those who had testi-
fed TO the correspondents visits to the house in
Warren street remained unshaken. If the jury
believed these witnesses the Justice said, tnen
the whole value of Sir Charles Dilke's testimony
was destroyed.
The formal verdict of the jury contains no
mention Of Sir Charles Dilkes name. 1t simply
declares that no material facts were suppressed
at the previous trial. at which ''the decree of di-
vorce was obtained justly There were no
scenes attending the declaration of the result of
the trial, although the people in the
courtroom received the result with some
cheering. Sir Charles vanished imme-
diately after the verdict was rendered
Mr. Donald Crawford was cheered by the people
in the street. Justice Hannen's suming up is
pronounced by lawyers generally a model of
cearness, compactness and lmpartiality 1t
was delivered in a solemn and impressive man
Vn WnFa 60 s,kA Il. -
elapsed between the first and second acts of
adultery between Mrs. Crawford and the CO.
respondent, the Justice thought the lady's ex-
planation sufficient when she said Sir Charles
was not we'll during this period.
Mr.. Crawford sat throughout the Judges
charge with his elbows resting on table, his
face buried in his hands Sir Charles Dixie sat
all the time with his eyes fixed on the judges
face, occasionally nodding agreement to a
judicial remark. After the verdict was rem
dered Sir Charles looked the picture of misery.
Captain Foster sat near Dixie eyeing him close
ly and evidently gloating over his rivals dejec-
ton. 1t was observed that Foster appeared to
be watching for the door Sir Charles would Sc
lect for exit, and twas thought that the Captain
might mean to follow the baronet and assault
him.
Sir Charles Dixie has issued the following ad-
dress to the Chelsea electors:
"Gentlemen-You are aware that the inter
vention of the Queens proctor in the case of
Crawford VS.. Crawford, on the plea that the said
divorce was produced contrary to the Justice of
the case, has led to verdict in which the frd
ing of Justice Butt has been affirmed.
This decision has come to me without
my being allowed to appear by counsel
or to address the jury; without my
being allowed to cross examine for myself; also,
without my being supplied with the particulars
OF being given in advance the names of wit
nesses all of which, under the order of the
court. have been supplied to the other side.
The Queens proctor, who accented some of my
suggestions for the cross-examinafion and Sir
Walter Phillimore, who maintained my position
with conspicuous abity-appearing however.
not as my advocate, but as the representative of
public of6cial--were also placed under great
disadvantage by having, practically, to disclose
the defense before the evidence in support of the
charge given. / have always known how
difficult my cause would be, even if it wore pre-
sented as had reason to suppose it would be-
by my own advOcates-and | have
never concealed it from YOU But the
method of procedure ordered by the
court intensified the difficulty. AS
far as my public life goes have no option but
to accept the verdict. While protesting once
more against its justice, 1 can only assure you,
as I have already often solernnly assured you
and with equal soiemnity sworn in court that
am innocent Of the charges brought against me.
and respectfully aud gratefully bid you farewell.
Il am yours faithfully,
CHARLES dixie
koir SuoEicS Di4hc has orueFco Inc safe Oh Ills
house at Chelsea. He will leave England and
reside permanently in the south of France
The Daily News, heretofore strong Dixie
organ. says: I'VE would be only too glad if we
could dissent from the jury's verdict.
but unfortunately, thers is no room
for skepticism any longer to assert
itself, and the lamentabie career os
this able statesman is thus prematurely closed.
We are compelled to sofrowfully admit that no
more shocking outrage upon the obligations Of