New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-08
rHE CRAWFORD-DILK E CASE
-ur DIVORCE COURT AND NOTES ON SOME


,rofession and the public have complained of rbem
London is perhaps proud Of the imposing pile |
-h;cb looks on the Strand and 1t is beyond doubt |
om,areIwth most of her street architecture. mag
.;6cent The Gothic style is effective enough ex-
iarnally For practical use in a climate where the
mnlight is scanty, narrow pointed windows are
mistake The approaches to the building are. for
london rather spac lous, but if yOu think they are
eant to make access to the courts easy soon
.ndecelved The great central hall corresponds close
enough III theory TO the Sale des pas perdus OF the
Paris Palais de Justice Practically 1t is privileged
and rather jealously guarded spot. Its doors are
mptinelled by stawart police and uniformed othci-
ais of the law these latter you will find at every
rtep after you are once in. You are at once asked
what court you want to go to and whether you
have business there. To the left of the chief en-
trance is a narrow door ettered at the side Public
Entrance to the Courts" Every time saw 1t this
week, the public entrance was surrounded Dy
more or less patient crowd and the public entrance
WAS closed by an openwOrk iron gate. Whether
the iron gate ever opens cannot say. suppose IL
does sometimes
told nv friends in uniform at the central arch
way that wanted t. 90 to the Divorce Court. az
which their faces hardened. and that l had an
appointment with Mr.. -. at whose well-known
name their faces softened. and was permitted to
that the Royal Courts of Justice are freely open to
the public. At the door on the left of the great
hall indicated to me- found another IRON barred
gateway and another minion Of the Ia " to whom
repeated the name which had served as a tailsman
before "You must 60 round by the other
loor" was the answer. The other
aoor for wonder lad no portcuihs
DIT other defence Following the painted signs
which direct the stranger along this labyrinth.
climbed tho stars traversed gas-ightcd corrlooI
Or two turned moro corners than can count. ana
presently came upon group or rather two groups
of people who seemed to be debating whether the
doors IN trout of them would or would not open
Once more named my friend my card went H. an
official of tho interior in earb fereut frsm that OF
the exterior officials appeared after an interval.
with the answer Not in court" Nor his clerk
"No SIR" "Wi he come in this wayP Prooaoiy
not" Where thsnf' "Down stairs to the right
So of started once more. went down STAIRS louno
another door, more police. more minions, enGageo
in another dialogue. which spare you, and IN the
end was ushsred through sill; in the wall whch
might have served postsrn TO the narrowes 'u're'
of medieval castle. stumbled up tnree OF iou'
steps, and was in court
Nowhere i. the reverence Of the Englishman for
what has been more visible than in a court OF aw
This ROYAL Palace of Jusrce-tO give 1t Its oincla
namc-was completed and opened less than 1our
wears ago. Then for the first time in the history of
England all her many superior tribunals for the
administration of justice were gathered under one
roof, or-siuce the roofs are nunerous-withln
single building. All the architectural genius OF
the country competed for the privilege OF designing
this editce. BY common consent, no mistake mas
been left uncommitted in ITS general plan and
structure What is still more remarkable IS that
no effort whatever has been made to improve the
actual court rooms when causes are heard. went
into several cOurts-all alike. The plan OF the
courts of Westminster Hall has been adopted
throughout Imagine for yourself a room perhaps
forty feet square. aud lofty The bench where sits
enthroued the majesty Of the law in the person OF
the Judge stretches along two-thirds OF the SIDE
opposite the two so-called public entrances. when
the Judge is there he looks down on everybody else
from beneath an oak canopy. HIS desk ISL pulpit
At his left souo feet below. and at right angles are
the jury, bet wesn whom and the Judge is the wit
pess-box At tho right. the reporters; in 'front.' and
about on q level with the jury. the clerks desk:
below this a small paraelogram some eight feet
wide with two benches and long table. where SIT
solicitors clients solicitors clerks. aud know not
who else. From the ether side OF this wall rise the
barrisers benches where the barristers are hudded
together rows. a narrow ledge in front serving
for desk. @. C's in the two OF three froat rows;
then the junior bar. entirely out OF reach OF client
sole tor then Two OF tuIco Io~e VI ou0 P"""'
agalery above. also for the public. The sides OF
this triangular chamber are paDsllcd half way up
in pale oak above IS all stone except the windows
five IN number of good size. This court at least is
well lighted All the light there is without
plares in upon these cold walls. There Is nothing
10 hide their naksdness nothing to soften the nara
surface little to relieve tho sternness OF the scene
1t suggests the PRISON almost as much as the court
the cell rather than the vestibule. There Is ut
tie red about the judges desk. the doors behind
him have red porti6res the other doors the same,
only more dingy For the rest gray aud oiacK
and white arc everywhere The barrlsters IN oiack
gowns and gray WIGS are quaint enough but they
lend no warmth to the monOtony of hnc. One
other touch Of color. OF perhaps two q juryman
with crimson tie another with a crimson face.
This is the impression I first got Of the arena
where Sir Charles Dixie 10 fighting for something
moro than life. From my seat IN tho we'll can
gaze full the crowd OF barrstcrs and spectators
tho latter wit. q look of hungry expectation on
their faces not pleasant to behold. The chleI
actors in this tragedy are nearly all in the well.
Mr.. Crawford il just opposite; Scot with Scot
tish face brown hair and beard, tranquil. res
olnte, fantless in manner as In his wholc
conduct; man who has borne much with
steadfast courage and borne himself throughout
with unfa,ing sense Of honor. Mr. Justice Hammer
when lie comes to sum mp to the jury Will IND HIM
self able to say that no one throughout the whole
ease has impeached Mr.. Crawford's honor or We
racty; Judgment in which all concur
The curiosity Of the public turns more eagerly
to Mrs. Crawford By her own confession and as
sertioD she ia guilty woman. yet to some extent
she has public sympathy. Her story is 80 sad.
she is 50 young the misery which has come upon
her IL clearly the work, at least ID
the beginning of another. the wreck OF
her life IL at twenty three complete. the whole
tragedy CHASTITY. that the most austere noralist
relaxcs little he thinks of the piteous history,
Or looks INTO the almost chdke face before him.
1t is hard fate which brings a woman out far
from the privacy of her own home into position
q fla