Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-20
"A DIVORCE SCANDAL IN JERSEY.
The Decree Separating philadelphia
From Her Husband Set Aside.

At Trenton, Nj, on Saturday last Vice Chan
cellor Bird, on the petition Of Mrs. Oscar L.
Britton, opened the decree granting an abso-
lutte divorce to Oscar L. Britton, and ordered
the divorce set aside ON the ground that it
had been granted without the wife's knowledge.
From the petition Of Mrs. Britton and the
records Of the court it appears that in March,
1887, Oscar L. Britton applied for a divorce
from his wife on the ground that she had been
uEfaithful to her marriage vow. One Albert
V. Dudley was made correspondent. and it was
stated that the Whereabouts of the wife were
unknown. The sheriff of Camden county, who
was given the subpoena to serve upon her, re-
turned it, stating that he was unable to find
her, and that he was informed that she lived in
Pennsylvania The application was published
IN one OF the Camden papers, and the matter
was referred to special master to hear the
case and report.
When the matter came up the defendant was
not represented in court. Dudley was one of
the witnesses for the plaintiff, and with several
other men testified to the bad character Of Mrs.
Britton.
Oscar L. Britton, on the stand, gave an &C.
count or their wedding according to which
story he was at the time only fifteen years Of
age. He and some friends were enjoying a
VINE supper at his wifes mothers house one
night, when 1t was suggested that he should
marry the daughter. While under the infu-
onsS VI hpuoi anu Scdrccly redIl8lnB Wndt ne
did, the witness said he was married to the girl
at O'Clock In the morning. This was in Phila-
delphia. He lived with his wife only two years,
and then he went to Camden to reside. he
alleged that she refused to accompany him.
The master reviewed the case and recon-
mended that divorce be granted. On a final
hearing decree of divorce was entered.
Six months later NJ. Il. Taylor of Camden
filed petition on behalf of Mrs. Britton, ask
ing that the decree be set aside on the ground
that 1t was obtained through fraud. The petit
ton alleged that the whole scheme was plot
on the part OF the husband to obtain divorce.
The wife set up that she always lived at No.
l247 Poplar street; that her husband resided
there with her for two years, and knew at the
time he applied for a divorce where abe could
be found. No copy Of the order of publication
was served upon her. She denied that the
marriage was performed in the manner stated
by her husband, but that he courted her for
several years. and that her mother refused to
let her marry for a time because of their ex-
treme youth. She finally consented and they
were welded on the night in question. Her
husband was not drunk and they had no wine
supper. She denied Dudley's story and de-
clared that she never met him and limited that
her husband got some woman to assume her
name.
The petition was backed by number Of afi-
davits and was 80 strong that Vice Chancellor
Bird opened the decree and gave Mrs. Britton
an opportunity TO plead to the original suit
An answer was fled, but the suit Jagged on until
Saturday, when the rule was entered Diminishing
the petition for divorce. The husband, two
weeks after the final decree Of divorce was en-
tered, which made him q free man. married a
rich widow and for time lived in Camden
When he heard that application would be made
70 reopen The divorce proceedings b. lsft