SOCIETY DIVORCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

SOCIETY DIVORCE.

RON FT' LOVE LETTERS.

ACTRESS'S MISSIVES CAPTURED BY HIS WIFE. Whii.k her husband was absent at the telephone Lady Ethel Amy Cochrane seized a number of letters from his co--?spondenco bag, which formed the principal ground of her action for divorce- opened before the president. Sir Samuel Evans, in the Divorce Division.

Lady Cochrane was married to Sir Ernest Cochrane on June 8, 1898, at the registry ofiice in Hampstcud. and they afterwards went through the religions ceremony at St. Stephen's, Westbourne Pa Ik. They lived principally at Dublin, where Sir Km est had an interest in a mineral water business. Miss Bovee was a friend of the parties, and Lady Cochrane had no reason to suspect anything until ltX)8, when she found a letter to her husbaiK 1 . from Miss Royce. in which the latter pioinised she would keep his letters to herself, as he. had promised to introduce her to Mr. St- ,-mour Hicks.

Lady Cochrane spoke to her husband about this letter, and he promised not to write to Miss Bovee again.

She went with Sir Ernest to Leopardstown races, where he had a private room. There she found him with Miss Royce and her two sisters. When she returned home he abused her for her manner towards. Miss Koyce. and called her a viper. II:- snubbed her in the presence of the servants and of friends. At the Curta-gii races he neglected her while- he paid attention to Miss K-ovce. On another occasion he id not accompany her because he said Miss Royce was leaving to join Mr. Hicks's company, and he had promised to take 'her out- to tea. He told his wife lie was really fond of Miss Royce.

The next day Lady Cochrane returned to England, and after staying at the Carlion Hotel she went to Brighton. Then she thought- that if Miss Royce was going with a touring company when her husband returned to London matters would be all light.

" A 1,1, A ' I.OTTKRY." At- an interview with the husband on Octolxn- 4, 1908. the wife, for the sake of the child, offered to return to him, provided he would not correspond with Miss Royce, and that- all . intimate friendship should erase.. But that did not satisfy the, husband. Ho refused to say where he had been when she met him on October 3. Two days later she accompanied him to Kempton Park races, and at her ropiest- he wentto her Hat, but he left the next. day. She found the following document- in Miss Rovce's handwriting, dated October 10. 1908: —

" From you 1 love and adore letters. 1 long foij you, darling, jus?) as much as you do foi —"

Counsel said the letter than broke off. Husband and wife went to see the Cambridgeshire in the same month, and when they returned Sir Ernest " went to the Sports Club. His wife had him watched, and ascertained that® lie was meeting Miss Royce. After that Lady Cochrane's health broke down, .and slip was compelled to go abroad. Sir Ernest- wrote several letter® to her.

In April, 1909, Lady Cochrane went to Jermyn-street, where her husband was staying, ami had an interview with him for the purpose, if possible.' of coming to an arrangement as' to herself and child. WIFK r'APTUUKS T.KITKKS. At his rooms she found, a hag containing letters, to him from Miss Royce, and during his absence at the telephone she took pojwession of the letters. When Sir Ernest- discovered his loss he wrote: —

"Ethel, it wis a damnable, trick your stealing those letter to-day. You simple must, give them back to me. I will call to-morrow and take them by force if necessary."

Later he wrote : — " I am absolutely astounded to think you have not returned the letters

Yon are nothing more than a common thief. 1 suppose you will now seek for a divorce by means of these letters-. . . ]! intend having those letters- back. T don't care Trflat I do or how I pet-'them. I suppose, after all is said and done, it is the common blackmail game. So name your price, and if it is within my means you shall li;iv< 1 it. Understand, once and for all. {hat I have no feeling for you, except hatred. . . . 1 will defend Claire, and if you insist upon ruining her with these letters sooner than let you succeed I «ill blow your brains out.

- "Mind. I warn you. I have nothing to live for. and my life i.* at. an end. If I cannot do anything for myself I will save Claire." On May 5 Sir Ernest Cochrane wrote again: — " You must, give those letter back to me at. once. You are absolutely driving me to desperate means. But- I must have them — must and will defend Claire. I must have those letters back, for without, them" you have no case against us. I will stop at nothing to nrevent them being brought into court. You shall not get ashilling front me, and I will take Bubs from you. It does not", matter how wrong Claire has been, von have no right to go on in this way. If yon force me to it. you. will bring about a. terrible tragedy, for 1 will shoot you if all else fails."

In a subsequent letter Sir Ernest said : — " For Cod's sake, give them up I tell you your life is in "hourly danger until you give me back those letters." Counsel lien read extracts Irom the. letters of Miss Rovce to Sir Ernest Cochrane'. One commenced, "My own darling Chow." and ended, " Always and ever your own Paddy." Another said. Yes, you are mine, and 1 am yours, v.otir very own. Paddy." She also wrote : — " 1 am now at mv wits' end to know how to get back the love which is absolutely necefsary for my life. I wish you had not been given the power to make me love you in the wav I dobut 5 really do not mean this. 1 ant nearly mad. ]f you -will onlytake me hack i will promise to be faithful and Hfve and adore you, and 1 will make you love me more and more, and you will never be sorry for doing so." Hits lordship remarked that it' seemed before that letter was written they had Had a quarrel. Counsel read another letter, in which Mis.v Rovce wrote on January 23, 1909: —

"] am yours body, and soul. Do keep me yours by loving me Tell me. darling, is there anything yon have not told me oil your mind? When 1 think how absolutely divinely happy I juu . . I shall never forgive you for not coming round on Sunday to kiss' me. His lordship intimated that as far as the letters were concerned he did not- think they showed conclusively that, there was anything wrong between Sir Ernest Cochrane and Miss Royce.

Counsel, continuing, said that on September 30 Mies Rovce was at Liverpool with Mr. Seymour Hicks's "Gay Gordons" company. She was visited every day by Sir Ernest. Cochrane at her lodgings. ( Lady Cochrane, giving evidence in support of counsel's statement, said her husband had made a confession to her about another woman.

His lordship asked if respondent had ever mentioned to her that she might, divorce him. because in his. letters he professed that, there was nothing wrong between him and Miss Royce?

Lady Cochrane: He suggested some lady should be paid. His Lordship: Do von suggest there is anything like an admission of infidelity in the letters?— Yes.

After further evidence, his lordship said that whatever was the view of anybody who did not know the circumstances of the letters, it was quite clear by the four threatening letters to the wife' that the husband thought they might establish a case of divorce against him. In one letter he said, "Without them (the letters) you have no case against, me." His lordship thought the misconduct was established, but lie would require further medical evidence in regard to-,the cruelty. The hearing was adjourned.