A DOCTOR'S DIVORCE SUIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8854, 16 April 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DOCTOR'S DIVORCE SUIT.

THE LADY HAS A TASTE FOR LITERATURE AND THEATRICALS. In the Probate and Divorce Division on February 26, before Sir C. Butt and a special jury, the case of Erskine v. Erskine and Gentle camo on for hearing. This was a petition presented by the petitioner, a medical man, residing at Chelsea, praying for the dissolution of his marriage on the ground of his wife's misconduct with the co-respondent, a job master. The respondent and co-respondent denied the allegations. The respondent made counter charges against the petitioner of condonation and connivance, which he denied. There was a claim for damages. Mr. Inderwick, Q.C., and Mr. Barnard appeared for the petitioner ; Mr. Cock, Q.C., and Mr. Dean for the co-respondent ; and Mr. Tyrell and Mr. Cancollor for the respondent. According to the opening statement of Mr. Inderwick, it appeared that the petitioner was a medical man in practice at Chelsea, and also a district medical officer. The parties were married on March 15, 1887, the respondent being then 17 years of age. The history of the case was somewhat peculiar. The lady was clever and accomplished, and her husband had the fullest confidence in her. There were two children the issue of tlio marriage. For some years the parties lived happily until the respondent became mixed up with some persons who wero fond of giving private theatrical performances. On the occasion of some private performances taking place at Surbiton the husband went to witness it, and up to that time he had nothing to complain of. Subsequently, however, he had to complain that the respondent spent too much money, and the next thing that occurred was that the respondent told him that she was entitled to £20,000, that the money was in the hands of trustees, and that when she came of age she would have £1000 a year. On that pleasant intimation the husband was satisfied, .and the expenditure went on at a somewhat increased rate. The husband, however, told the respondent that he was rather surprised that she had not made him acquainted with the pleasant information before. That was in the year 188' J. In 1890 the respondent was very much away from home, and on the husband asking her where she wos in the habit of going, she told him that she had made the acquaintance of an authoress named " Mis? Smith," and that she assisted her in typewriting. This satisfied the husband for a time. Circumstances, however, occurred that somewhat shook the husband's confidence in his wife's statement. The respondent stayed from homo two nights, anil when she told him that she had boen with Miss Smith, who was very much pressed with work, the husband asked to be introduced to Miss Smith, but he never was. That would be in 1890, and at this time Mr. Gentle, a married man, and a person who let out horses and carriages, came on the scene. The wife had run up a bill for the hire of horses and carriages with Gentle, and ho pressed her for payment, and then the husband suggested that the lady should see her trustee with a view to getting an advance of money. She said she would go and see him, and accordingly she went to Melton Mowbray, where she said " Sir Edgar Chester " was her guardian, and " Mr. Abraham " was her trustee. On the 10th of October petitioner received a letter telling him that she had arrived there after a nasty journey, but that she had to make the unfortunate announcement that the person who had received a thousand pounds for her had absconded with the money, that steps were being taken for its recovery. Somo further letters were received from the respondent, telling him all was going on right, and she concluded one of her letters, "Always your loving but sometimes naughty wife, Freda." Some time after that Gentle came to the petitioner, and asked if he was satisfied that the statements of his wife were all right. He said he thought that they were, bub that he intended going to Melton Mowbray and ascertain for himself the state of affairs. He went, and found that the respondent was then living in the houso of a respectable lady, and her explanation of that was that her guardian thought she had better live in private apartments, "as Melton Mowbray was full of wicked young men who went there hunting." (Laughter.) The petitioner was satisfied, and came back to London. After that the petitioner received a letter from the respondent, telling him that it had been settled, that she was going to have £20 a week when of age and a thousand pounds to go on with. The letter told the petitioner " not to worry," that after she came of age she should never have less than £1000 a year, and that Mr. Abraham was her trustee. Shortly after that, a3 no money was forthcoming, Mr. Erskine's creditors became impatient, and eventually tho petitioner had to call them together, when an arrangement was entered into that he should pay them 10s in the pound. Steps were taken by tho petitioner to put his money affairs into a better condition, and then the respondent told him that her friend Miss Smith, tho authoress, had offered her a situation as companion and assistant, that she was to remain with that lady all day and night except Saturday and Sunday. The petitioner some time after that was anxious to be introduced to " Mis? Smith," and whenever he went to the lady's residence in Maud Grove, Fulham, tho lady was either away from home or " out in her brougham." He, however, never saw the lady. Subsequently a circumstance occurred that induced the petitioner to visit his solicitor He was advised by the solicitor to search the house, and after he had done so he found two compromising letters in his wife's handwriting. From inquiry ho afterwards made, he found that Gentle was in tho habit of visiting the respondent at different places, that he had been in her bedroom, and such other circumstances as induced him to give instructions, on the 22nd January, 1891, to commence proceedings. The letters the petitioner found in the respondent's wardrobe were addressed to Gentle, and urged him to come forward and help her as regards her money affairs, and to save himself and her from the disgrace that was hanging over their heads. Ultimately it turned out that the whole story about the £20,000 was a romance, that " Sir Edgar Chester " had never been heard of except in " Barnaby Rudgo," that Miss Smith, tho authoress, was a myth, and that from beginning to end the story that the respondent had told her husband was untrue. As to tho allegations that the respondent had made as to the husband's condonation and connivance, lie should leave that to be dealt with by tho other side. As far as he knew there was nob the slightest ground for such an assertion.

Dr. John Wilson Erskine then gave evidence to that effect, bub in crossexamination lie admitted that the respondent gave birth to a child four or five days ofter the marriage. Sir 0. Butt: Was that child yours? I believe it was, my lord.

in reply to further questions, he said his wife was visited by a music master, but ho was nob aware that anything wrong took placo between them. Ho did not know that in 1889 the respondent was acquainted with a person named Brinton. He knew the respondent was acquainted with an artist named Sheldon. She was his pupil, and took lessons from him. In 1889 lie permitted the respondent to go on a tour with a burlesque company. The case was adjourned.

In the course of an interesting article in the last issue of the Queen, dealing with " the first year of wifehood," the author of "How bo be Happy, Though Married" advises the young wife to lay the following maxims to heart :—The first year (he writes) will discover to you that you have married a man and not a god, so be prepared for imperfections. Do not look down upon him when a husband as much as you looked up to him when a lover. As long as you can, let him think that he is a good husband, and he will try to be one. Onco in a while let him have the last word, and think that he knows as much as you do ; it keeps up his self-respect, and you are none the worse for admitting that you are nob infallible. Be reasonable ; ib is a greab deal to ask under some circumstances, bub do bry. Read something beside fashion notes, and remember that there are larger issues in life than the last bonnet. Be not loss courteous and agreeable to your husband than you are to other men. On the contrary, make him your companion, and try to raise his standard of duty. Even if your husband have no heart, he is sure to have a stomach, so be careful to lubricate the marriage yoke with well-cooked dinners.