Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-24
DILKE'S DEEP DISGRACE.
THE JURY'S FINDING A VERDICT
OF GUILTY.

Mr.. Crawford Granted IA Divorce from
the Woman He Called Wife-The
Closing Scenes In the Great. TriNI-Sir
Dixie Retires from Public Lite-COm
ments of the Press.
LONDON, July 23.-The case OF Craw-
ford against Crawford and Dixie was
given to the jury this afternoon. They
returned verdict finding Mrs. Crawford
guilty of adultery with Sir Charles Dixie
and granting Mr.. Crawford divorce.
ONLY OUT TWENTY MINUTES.
The jury we're absent twenty minutes
only. The decision is that MIR. Crawford
Is entitled to a divorce from his wife on
the ground Of adultery with Mr.. Dixie,
as decided nisi by Justice Sir Charles
Butt on Feb. II last, the present case be-
Ing simply rehearing at the intervention
OF the Queens proctor for the purpose OF
ascertaining whether the decree MIST
should not be set aside on the ground OF
collusiOn between Mr.. and Mrs. Crawford,
on new evidence invalidatiug the wife's
confession. The jury finding in favor of
Mr.. Crawford, the proceeding confirms the
previous decree and makes it absolute at
the expiration of six months attaching to
it. This six months will expire Aug. u,
the decree nisi having been issued Feb. II.
THE COSTS ON THE PROCTOR.
The Queens proctor has been con-
demned 10 pay the costs of the present
proceeding. In his closing argument Sir
Walter PhillimOre, for the Queens proc
tor, urged the jury to believe that Mrs.
Crawtord's whole confession was con-
cOcted for the purpose of shielding Capt.
Foster. Justice Hannen's summing up
is pronounced by lawyers a model of
clearness, compactness and impartiallty.
But from beginning to end IL WAS de-
cdedly against Sir Dixie. 1t was deliv-
cred in solemn and impressive tones and
held the audience spell-bound. In refer
ence to the long interval which elapsed
between the first and second acts Of adul-
terry between Mrs. Crawford and the CO.
respondent, the Justice thought the lady's
explanation sufficient when she said Sir
Charles was not well during the period.
SIR DILKE's sILEECE.
He laid stress upon Sir Dilke's absten-
tion from testifying in the former trial.
This silence had the effect of suggesting
| that Sir Charles was guilty Of the charges
he refraIned from denying. "WOuld you,
gentlemen of the jury, remain silent even
under the advice OF counsel when a tissue
of falsehoods was told against you seri-
ously affecting your moral characterW
The Judge alluded to the absence from
the testimony of confirmation of essential
| portions Of Sir Dllke's story as "cer-
| tainly remarkable" while Mrs. Crawford
| was able to describe accurately the
bedroom in Sir Charles 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 testified to the
correspondence visits to the house in
| Warren street remained mistaken. If
the jury believed these witnesses, the
Justice said, then the whole value OF Sir
Charles Dllke's testimony was destroyed.
| Tue formal verdict of the Jury contains
no mention OF Sir DIIke's name. 1t sim
| ply declares that no material facts were
suppressed at the previous trial at which
''Jhe decree OF divorce was obtained just
! ly."
THE CLOSING SCENES.
There were no scenes attending the
| declaration of the result of the trial,
| although the people outside the court
| room received the announcement with
some cheering. Mr.. Crawford sat through
! the Judges charge with his elbows rest
| Ing on the table and his face buried in hIs
hands. Sir Dixie sat all the time with his
! eyes fixed on the Judges face, Occa-
sionalIy nodding agreement to a judicial
remark. After the verdict was
rendered Sir Charles looked the pic
ture of misery. He vanished i'm
mediately after the verdict was
rendered. Capt. Foster sat near Sir
/ Dixie eyeing him closely and evidently
gloating over his rivals AFFECTION. IL was
observed that MIR. Foster appeared to be
watching for the door Sir Charles would
select for exit and it was thought the
Captain might mean to follow The Baronet
and assault him. Donald Crawford, the
| plaintiff, when he left the building was
cheere by the people In the street.
Sir Charles Dixie has ordered a sale Of
his house at Chelsea. He will leave Eng
land and reside permanently in the south
| of France.
OUT OF PUBLIC LIFE.
Sir Charles Dixie issued the following
address to the Chelsea electors:
"GENTLEMEN-YO are aware that th o
| Intervention of the Queens proctor in tn g
! case of Crawford vs. Crawford, on the
! plea that said divorce was pronounced
contrary to the justice Of the case, has
led to the verdict in which the finding OF
Justice Butt has been affirmed. TINS de-
cisiOn has been come to 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
particulars Of or being given IN advance
the names Of the witnesses, all Of which
under the order of the court have been
freely supplied 10 the other side. The
! Queens proctor, VINO accepted some Of
my suggestions for the cross eXamina-
ton, and Sir Walter PhillimOre, who
maintained my position with con-
spicuOus ability y-appearin0, however,
not as my advocate, but as repre-.
sentative Of public otiicsl-were also
placed under great disadvantage by hay-
ing practically to disclose the defense be-
fore the evidence in support OF the charge
! was given. have always known how
| difficult my cause would be even II IL
were presented, ,as had reason 70 suppOse
il would be, by my own adVices, and |
have never concealed It from you. But
the method of procedure ordered by the
courts intensified the difficulty. AS iar as
my public life goes have no option but -
accept the verdict. While protesting once
more against Its injustice, can only
| assure you, as l have already Oileu
/ solemny assured you, and with equal
solelnnty sworn in court, that am inuO.
! cent OF the charges brought against me
! and respectfully and gratefully bid you
| farewell. l am yours faithfully.
| "CuARLES DILKE."
The Telegraph says: tine whole case
aud the result IL public calamity.
| There was a time when Sir Dixie seemed
| TO stand a measurable distance from the
| post oI Premier. Many and most valuable
| are the services he has rendered TO this
A.a.ss sssNtt Faah . hat 90.