The Sun. — 1862-07-04 (London, England)

GREY V. GREY, SMITH, AND WINTERINGHAM. Dr, Phillimore, Q.C., and Mr. Searle, for the petitioner ; Me. Huddleston, Q.C., and Mr. Aspinall, for the respondent; Mr. Serjeant Ballantine and Mr. Tayler for the co-respondent Smith ; Mr. Prentice for the co-respondent Winteringham. The petitioner, Mr. F. Sheriff Grey, was a shipping-broker in King William-street, City, and his wife, Louisa Sexton, a music mistress. They first met at Mr. Grey's lodgings, where Miss Sexton used to give lessons to a young lady that also lived there. He fell in love with her, and ultimately he married her in May, 1859. The match, which was not approved of by his friends, resulted in the birth of a child. After cohabiting in various places, the parties at last removed to Foresthill Villas, Sydenham ; but Mr. Grey's business necessarily took him a great deal from home. He had in fact an office in Liverpool as well as in London. Towards the end of 1860 Mrs. Grey imagined that it was necessary for her health that she should have horse exercise ; and she obtained from her husband leave to take lessons from a riding-master, at Sydenham, named Smith. The petition alleged that Smith very soon abused his position to seduce the respondent, and therefore he demanded of him the sum of £l,OOO by way of damages. This affair having been discovered, the petitioner broke up his establishment, and sent his wife away, allowing her only to take her linen ; and it was alleged that she had formed a second liason with the co-respondent Winteringham, a civil engineer, in St. Clement's-inn. Of him the petitioner claimed £5OO. The defence was a denial of the charges, coupled with recriminatory pleas of cruelty, desertion, and neglect, conducing to adultery. The charge against Smith was sought to be established by a servant named Maria Fisher, who said that he used to visit at the house, and go into Mrs. Grey's room. On one occasion while Mr. Grey was in Liverpool he did so while Mrs. Grey was-lying down on the bed. Witness afterwards knocked at the door. Smith came and opened it. His clothes were in disorder, and he said that he had broken his braces. The respondents used to kiss at parting. On another occasion, when Mrs. Grey came home, witness said to her, " You have been undressed." She replied that she had been into some house in London with Mr, Smith for two hours, and that there was a nice fire in the room. Cross-examined by Mr. Huddleston—Heard Mrs. Grey one night call " Murder." Got up and ran down stairs. Mr. Grey had been boxing her ears, and there were marks of his fingers on her face. Mr. Grey turned them both out of the house into the garden. Mrs. Grey had only on her dressiog • gown and slippers. Mr. Grey said that respondent " Might go to the she belonged to." Told him that he was worse than a beast to treat her so. They went to the station to see if there dent'sa. train to take them to town to the respondent en mamma, but it was toe late. One night h her in. She then took the garden broom,broke wit_ the respondent came home late he refud w the back window, got in that way, and ran ness, who was in bed with the baby. her watch and chain and threw them to witness. Mr. Grey pulled She the bed intoclothes and down the hiswife snatched up the watch. Then he tore off bonnet. Then she ran into her own room, witness followed her. Found her bed and her master kneeling on her. u off her, and then pushed him out of the n room, and up ttoook off partlyunder the P ed him room. He in charge. Was very violent, stable came he wouldana notthe wifegrievsepohnidsen At last he fetched a policeman ; but witness did not He said that she was drunk, but when " the cci on ng: think she was, and the policeman said Had seen them fighting on other occt?si . By Mr. Sergeant Ballantinc.....Smith had - neVer sohnes was not.