Heavy Damages against a Wife Seducer: The case of Pinsent v. Pinsent and Mersham was before the Divorce Court on Thursday. This was a petition by the husband for dissolution of marriage on the grounds of his wife’s adultery. The petitioner is a barrister and Queen’s counsel practising at St. John’s, Newfoundland, and also a member of the Legislative Council of the island. He was married to the respondent on April 28, 1856, and had eight children. The co-respondent was an officer in the Newfoundland Fencibles, aide de-camp and private secretary to the governor. In December 1867 the petitioner left England with two of his children, whom he intended to place at school here, and during his absence the foundation of the criminal intercourse was laid. There was no defence, but Dr. Dean addressed the jury in mitigation of damages which were prayed for in the petition. The jury found for the petitioner with £3,000 damages.
[see also Liverpool Mercury: Saturday 17th July 1869]
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0747 Hennock: Robert John Pinsent: 1834 – 1893
GRO0062 Hennock: Anna Brown Cooke: 1837 – 1882