STRANGE CASE OF DIVORCE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1905, 10 February 1875, Page 3

STRANGE CASE OF DIVORCE.

In the English Divorce Court the case of Fogwell v. Fogwell and Gordon, was heard on November 18th. Mr R: Scarle for the petitioner; Mr R. A. Bayford for the respondent. This was the husband's petition for a divorce, on the ground of his wife's adultery, and the facts were somewhat of a remarkable character, as the courtship, marriage, and—as it now happened—the divorce all happened within a year. It appeared from the evidence on the part of the petitioner, that the respondent, who is an actress playing under the name of " Ada Ward," was during of last year performing at Paignton, near Torquay, in Devonshire, and the petitioner, who is the son' of a gentleman of property in the neighbourhood, saw her and fell in Jove. He married her in December of last year, she stating that her father was a man who had ruined himself by speculation, and that she herself had been taken by her grandmother to Milan to learn singing, and that relative, besides. giving her £200 to £300, also made over to her the hpuse,ll?6. 3, Maiid-rgrove, Ifulham-road. After the marriage the parties to the suit resided at that address, but after a short time the petitioner saw that letters addressed to " The Countess de Wilhorsfc" and "Miss Ada Ward" came to the house,; and he inquired .of his wife the reason of this, and site told him tjiat, the epistles in question were meant for a former occupier of the house. Soon after ihis the petitioner went. to> tiss his wife as usual before, leaving home, Jbut she refused him that right, and told him to go and kiss some other .woman, :^anji, sj|e,/w;puj(d^ go: her way, and he. might! gQ, his own. He + was -very mucli astonished ait thisj^andvreminded her?.of) tb&vjack that owing to liis marriage with her Kis father had discarded him, and how great for her was his affection. These remarks had noeffect on her, and a fortnight after she informed her ,husband that she had a theatrical engagement, which she was going k> fulfil in Lancashire. The petitioner asked his wife at what town she was going to perform, but she refused to tell, and soon after left the house: Isabella Johnstone and Sarah Eager, two servants to the respondent, proved that! after leaving her husband the respondent resided at Blackheath, and.. was there ! visited by the co-respondent. Afterwards < he took 1 a house for her—l So. 11, Higtitow, Knighbsbridge—aod used frequently ;to visither. He was seen in her bedroom, and- his bath-room adjoined that apartment. His lordship granted a decree nisi for a dissolution of marriage.