COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
Nov. 11.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
BULKELEY v. BULKELEY AND ARMITAGE.
Mr. Karslake, Q.C., and Mr. C. Pollock for the petitioner: Mr. Field, Q.C., and Dr. Spinks for the respondent.
Captain Richard Lewis Mostyn Williams Bulkeley sued for a divorce on account of his wife’s adultery with Lieut.-Colonel Henry Armitage, of the Coldstream Guards.
The marriage of the parties took place in 1857, the petitioner being a son of Sir Richard Bulkeley, and the respondent, Mary Emily Baring, a daughter of Sir Henry Bingham Baring, M.P. He was 32 years of age, and she 26, so that there was no disparity of any kind between them. They cohabited at Hertford-street, Mayfair, at Windsor, and other places; and at the time of the separation they were residing at a cottage on the estate of Sir R. Bulkeley, called Bryn.
Captain Basford said—I was formerly in the Horse Guards Blue. I am acquainted with the parties. I was present at their marriage, which took place at the chapel of the British embassy, in Paris, on the 18th of May, 1857.
Jane Snowdon—I am now cook in the service of Mr. Green, of Heathfield-house, near Petersfield. I was in that of the petitioner in 1862. I know Colonel Armitage. He used to come with Mrs. Armitage to the petitioner’s. In August, 1862, I left town to go with the family to Bryn. Soon afterwards Colonel and Mrs. Armitage came in their yacht. They generally had their meals at my master’s, but they slept on board. After they had been in the neighbourhood for some time, Mrs. Armitage left in consequence of the illness of a relative. I recollect Colonel Baring, the brother, of the respondent, shortly afterwards coming to Bryn. Colonel Armitage subsequently came to stay in the house altogether. On the 23rd of September there was a party at Baron Hill (Sir R. Bulkeley’s), on the occasion of Sir Richard’s birthday. All the party at Bryn went to dine at the house. At midnight my master left to go to the Duke of Beaufort’s; but Colonel Baring, the respondent and co-respondent returned to Bryn. I had been up at the house and did not get back till after the party had reached Bryn. As I was going up stairs Mrs. Bulkeley spoke to me at her room door. For certain reasons I resolved to watch her that night. Colonel Armitage slept in a room adjoining my mistress’s, there being only a small passage between, the two apartments. At 20 minutes to two I saw Colonel Armitage leave his room and go into the respondent’s. He returned to his own room at about four. The next five or six nights I also watched, and I saw the same thing occur again. The last two or three times the lady’s maid Franklin was with me. On the 5th night the nursemaid also watched.
By the Judge Ordinary—The butler had asked me to watch, and I had been previously told something about my mistress.
The nurse corroborated the evidence of this witness and stated that the last time the respondents were watched was on a Sunday. Witness afterwards told Lady Bulkeley, who had an interview with the respondent on the following Wednesday. The respondent and Colonel Armitage both left Bryn the same day, and the establishment at Bryn was broken up.
Sir J. P. Wilde was perfectly satisfied with the evidence, and pronounced a decree nice with costs.