THE DOWNSHIRE DIVORCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7423, 9 June 1902, Page 2

THE DOWNSHIRE DIVORCE.

— '■ ♦ A "BRUTAL" REVENGE. [From Otjb Correspondent.] LONDON, April 25. It seems as but yesterday, that the marriage of the Marquess of Downshire to the fair Miss "Kitty" Hare was heralded by the newspapers as a isocial event of 'the season, and wow the Marquess's petition, for divorce figures in all the news-sheets. As a matter of fact, the petitioner and his guilty wife were joined together in June, 1893, and three children,' have blessed their union. . The respondent in the case was Captain Joseph Laycock, a wealthy Yeoman, who made the acquaintance of the Marquess and his wife during the hunting season in Leicester of 1899-1900. The following year the friendship between the parties ripened, and Captain Laycock became a more and mere frequent visitor. Early this year the Marquess came to the conclusion, that Laycock's , calls were not made entirely on account of c the head of the Dowaishire menage, and he entered a mild protest. A few days later- the Marquess had to leave Ms (home at Easb Bampstead, and the hour 'his tack \v - turned his wife received a visit, fromi Laycock, who was duly lodged for the night in a room adjoining the sleeping apartment of the Marchioness. Next morning the Downshire contingent of " high life below stairs" were talking in whispers, with, much elevation of eyebrows and ." You don't say so!" Apparently; however, that fact was not disclosed to the Marquess, who, however, told bis father of his wife's predilection, for Captain Laycock's society,- and the latter interviewed the Marchioness with' a view to persuading her to cease her intimacy with that individual. That he failed may be gauged from, the fact that as soon, as die *had left the house Laycock called and was once more a guest for the night. This fact, also, sefems to have escaped Lord! . Downs-hire's notice, bub he was getting miore and more suspicious, and on Jan.-. 28 he forbade his wife to hold any further intercourse with the Captain. There was a bit of" a scene on the public highway, but finally tlia Marchioness was taken- home by her husband. Ensued another row royal, but the " lady apparently soothed her husband's feelings, arid peace cf a kind was established. It lasted barely four d%B, for; on. Feb. 3 the Marquess found his wife walk still in communication with Laycock, wihom she absolutely refused to give up. The husband thereupon left borne, oonsulted Sir George Lewis, had enquiries made, and brought his suit. The servants' evidence, together with a batch' of amatory correspondence froni Layoock to the Marchioness, disclosed quite sufficient to entitle the husband to the decree nisi Sir Francis Jeune pronounced last Friday, 'but apparently tihe lady imagined that 'her husband was utterly unreasonable when, he wanted to visit her sins with, the social ostracism imposed upon divorced women. She wrote from Ola-ridge's :—" You are more cruel than I could ever have imagined, but I know it is not you, my Aity, who wrote that letter. lam very ill, and do not want to live, and make this one last appeal to you just to say good-bye. If you have any pity you cannot refuse. So, for God's sake, be guided by your own. feelings-. Those whom you are influenced by have always hated me, and often abused! me to you. I cannot go to my own people. They drive me mad. I will never worry you again-. I know you loved me once, sk> fear "the pake of that love just speak on« word to me and try and forgive me, and then I shall never meet you again-. I sihaU always love you. — Kitty." But, in the language of tihe stneet, " Arty wasn't taking any, thank you!" and persisted in- being guided by his commonsense and his legal adviser, so the lady, finding the penitent and loving lay was not working at all well, turned' round, called the Marquess ." brute " and "coward," and wound up, "I timk ycra must be mad." "Mad" the Marquess •undoubtedly was, but not in. the way &©r Ladyship meant.