A WIFE’S COMPLAINTS IN A SINGULAR DIVORCE CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3796, 5 April 1913, Page 4

A WIFE’S COMPLAINTS IN A SINGULAR DIVORCE CASE.

A MYSTERIOUS" NOBLEMAN. In the London Divorce Court last month the President (Sir S. Evans) hoard the defended suit of Mrs Clara Ellen Langdon-Langdon, who sought the disolution of her marriage oil the ground of the alleged cruelty and misconduct of her husband, Mr. John Langdon-Langdon. The charges were denied.

Mr. Rawlinson, K.C., said the pe* titioner was a widow possesed of considerable means when she married the respondent, whose name was LangdonLangdon or Yeandle, ho (counsel) was not sure which, on August 15, 1910. The respondent became the proprietor of an establishment giving electric baths and massage treatment for ladies, which l;e advertised by means of pamphlets.® It came to the wife’s knowledge that her husband, in the course of his business, gave baths to his lady patients, which she (petitioner) objected to unless a female nurse was present. On one occasion the wife went into the place, and found her husband and a lady together, the latter certainly not fully dressed. In 1911. owing to her health, the wife had to go to Harrowgate, and later she and her husband went to Switzerland. There ho behaved very cruelly, and his ill-treatment continued at their fiat in Carlisle Mansions and Victoria Street, Westminster, where the baths establishment was. AMbonduct was alleged with a girl named Renee Travers.

Cross-examined by Br. Barnard, petitioner admitted she had noted both as an amateur and professionally, and for a period at Christmas, 1911, understudied Miss Lillian Braithwaite, her husband having the money she earned. Did you taunt- your husband with Lord H ? —Certainly not.

On the occasion of the picture incident, did not your husband say d Lord H and his pictures?—No, ho said ho would break up the d thing, referring to the picture, which was of Lord H .

Re-examined by Mr. Rawlinson, K.C., petitioner said “Lord H.” was a very great friend of her father’s and of Landseer, the painter. He sat as a model for Landseer, and helped him in his artistic work.

Mr. Rawlinson proposed to read correspondence between “Lord H.” and the respondent, to show that “Lord H.” was a friend of the father, and that he was consulted at the time of the marriage settlement. He wrote, said counsel, letters which were obviously those of an elderly man. Several servants were then examined to corroborate the petitioner in re ; feronce to lier allegations of cruelty. Renee Travers, who said she was recently performing, said she attended on supoena. Witness said she got one of Mr. Langdon's pamphlets in May of last year cn the treatment of “nervous ailments in women,” giving an address in New Bond Stret. She called there and consulted Mr. Langdon. She was treated by him. The treatment consisted of massage. Intimate relations occurred between them. Subsequently the respondent told her lie. was married, and he did not want anybody to know about it.

His Lordship thought there had been no adultery or cruelty proved, and dismissed the petition.