A Conisborough Divorce Case

In the Probate and Divorce Division the High Court of Justice on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Butt, the case of Morton v. Morton and Frampton was heard.

This was a petition of the husband for dissolution of marriage, he alleging adultery by his wife with the co-respondent.

Mr. Middleton appeared for the petitioner, and Mr. Pritchard for the respondent

Mr. Middleton stated that Arthur Morton, the petitioner, was a labourer, and the co-respondent, Thomas Frampton, was a glass blower, and the parties lived at Conisborough. Petitioner and his wife were married on the 27th October, 1887. After the marriage the husband discovered that his wife was in the habit going about with young men in the village. On the 12th February he watched her, and surprised her in the act adultery with the co-respondent in a field in the neighbourhood of Clifton Hill.

Petitioner stated that in December after the marriage discovered his wife was enceinte, and she told him, “It is not yours.” In the July following she had a child. Petitioner spoke to seeing his wife in company with Frampton, the latter having his arm round her. On the evening of the 12th February last witness went away from home, and afterwards he and a friend named Watts watched respondent. They saw her go with Frampton into a field on Clifton hill, and petitioner said he caught them there in the act of adultery.

Edward Watts gave corroborative testimony.

The respondent went into the box and gave a complete denial to the petitioner’s statement. She said that the child was her husband’s, and that on the 12tb February she was with her sister and her young man at the time of the alleged adultery.

Witnesses were called in support of this statement including the correspondent, who denied that he had ever committed adultery with the respondent.

His Lordship pronounced a decree nisi for the dissolution of the marriage.