£3,000 Damages in a Divorce Cases: Pinsent v. Pinsent and Mesham: this case was heard on Thursday. The petitioner is the Hon. R. J. Pinsent, a Queen’s counsel and member of the Legislative Council of Newfoundland. He married the respondent, who was the daughter of a Portuguese merchant, in April 1856, and lived with her in Newfoundland until November 1867. In that month she came to England for the purpose of placing one of her children at school. The co-respondent, Charles Mesham, was formerly an officer in the army, and secretary and aide de camp to the Governor of the colony. He was married and had a family, and he had been on friendly terms with the petitioner, He met the respondent in England, in accordance with a plan which had been preconcerted between them and they took lodging at Weymouth, where they cohabited as husband and wife. There was no dispute as to the adultery, but the petition contained a claim for damages, and the only question was as to the amount. Verdict for the petitioner – damages £3,000. Decree nisi, with costs against the co-respondent.
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Referenced
GRO0747 Hennock: Robert John Pinsent: 1834 – 1893
GRO0062 Hennock: Anna Brown Cooke: 1837 – 1882