St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-13
A WIFE'S WICKEDNESS.
The Dilks-O Crawford Scandal Ventilated in
an English Court and Crawford
Awarded Divorce.
Sir Charles Dixie Strangely Not Called to
AccOunt-Mrs. 0rawford's Sensational
Testimony.
Have Ruined Mr.. Dukes Future
Political Prospects.
a West Virginian's Wife's Infidelity
Causes Him to Attempt Murder
and Suicide.
Crawford Get. u Divorce.


LONDON, Feb. 12.-The trial of the d.
vorce case of Mr.. Donald Crawford against
his wife. in which Sir Charles Dixie is CO
respondent, was begun to-day. Great in
terest is felt in the case and the court room
was crowded when it was called. Sir
Charles Dixie arrived early and took his
seat in the court room without being recOg-
niZed by most Of the people in attendance
The case being announced the petitioners
counsel states that the first intimation his
client had of his wife's unfaithfulness was
on the receipt of several anonymous letters,
the writer of which warned Mr.. Crawford
10 beware of 1.-The member from Chelsea"
(Sir Charles Dilke.) Mr.. Crawford there
upon made an investigation into his wife's
habits and found that she had been cores
bonding with one Capt Foster. This Of
tense he had cOndoned. Receiving further
anonymous letters, Mr.. Crawford taxed his
wife with infidelity. She admitted her
guilt and made a full confession. His at
tentions TO her, she said, had commenced
directly after her marriage. He protested
70 admire her because of her
RESEMBLANCE TO HER MOTHER.
The wife of the petitioner had attributed
the anonymous letters to the vindictiveneSs
of her mother. The petitioner case rested
solely on the wife's confession. The serv-
ants of Mr.. CTawfOrd's household. counsel
said. would give evidence showing that
their mistress had been absent from home
on the night she said she had slept with Sir
Charles Dixie. The petitioner, Mr.. Craw-
ford, was called to the witness stand, and
gave testimony supporting the statement of
his council. Mr.. Crawford said he was
startled by his wife asking him whether he
would forgive her if she had been unfaith-
full 10 him. His wife's sister had been
shown the anonymous letters, and had
agreed that they were in the handwriting
again how much she was like her mother.
Counsel for the petitioner sub
United the evidence against Mrs. Crawford,
but submitted none against Sir Charles
Dix. The court granted Mr.. Crawford a
dive &c from his wife and dismissed the
charges against Sir Charles Dixie. A coll
senSuS of opinion is that the filthy reVela-
tons made in the trial and the failure to
attempt either To DENY or disproye the
charges against him has practically ruined
Sir Charles Dixie.
A PAINFUL IMPRESSION.
Although Sir Charles Dixie escaped I'M
der the technical plea that Mrs. Crawford's
unsworn confession was insufficient evil
dence. the whole tenor of the trial has pro-
duced a profound and universal conviction
of bikes guilt. Justice Butts, in summing
up. described the respondents statements
as clear and distinct and substantial, and
said they compelled him 10 conclude that
the adultery charged was actually com
mitted. If the woman had been
put on the witness stand and given the same
testimony there would have been evidence
against Dixie. Dilke's position was further
damaged by his refralning from giving
testimony. The attorney generals inten-
tons were to put Dixie on the witness box.
His crOss-examination would be on indis-
cretions in life from which no man is free.
This was taken as frank admission. Dixie
was unable to give an explanation. That
part of Mrs. CrawfOrds confession describ-
ing the depth of debauchery between Dixie
and herself is unfit for publication. The trial
has caused a painful impression throughout
the county in regard to the state Of society
morals.