Divorce proceeding between Harry Brine and Ada Olivia Sophia

Date: Jun 1907 [unknown]
Location: Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England
Surnames/tags: Brine Witt

“Isle of Wight Times & Hampshire Gazette” Thu 20 Jun 1907 Transcription from a digital image on the Findmypast website^[1]

People mentioned:

Harry Brine (1860-1919)

Ada Olivia Sophia (Carus-Wilson) Brine (1856-1939)

“A LOCAL DIVORCE CASE. - WANTED- A WIFE WITH MONEY. - An Irish lady possessing some most extensive and pecular matrimonial reminicences was plaintiff in an action before Mr. Justice Channel on Friday.

Mrs. Ada Olivia Sophia Brine, now of Canterbury, demanded from her third husband, Mr Harry Brine, of East Cowes, the sum of £684 6s. 11d.

These money's she alleges, came into her husband's possession when she was kept by him in durance at his I-le of Wight residence.

His defence retorted that the money was spent in household espenses, and in going in quest of Mrs. Brine's children by her first marriage, (rom whom she was parted by order of Court

Mrs. Brine's first husband was a Mr. Crampton. He left her money when he died.

PARTED AT THE ALTAR.

She declared to the Court, when she gave evidence, that she had never met Mr. Witt until she married him.

Their married life was as brief is their courtship. She " left him at the altar,' so she said.

It was at this time that she got into correspondence with Mr. Brine. signing herself " Ideala de Witt," and deseribing herself as " possesing some property, tall, sl ght, and fair, the daughter of a country gentleman, and in want of sympathy.”

They met at Waterloo Station, and Mr.Brine, then discovered that she was not " widow," but a married woman.

A suit was brought against Mr. Witt for nullity of marriage, but this failed, and then Mr Witt himself instituted divorce proceedings-so it was slated in court-with Mr. Brine as co-respondent.

Mr Brine declares that Mr Brine "worked up the divorce," and that Mr. Witt “accepted a large sum of money."

STORY OF AN ESCAPE.

She then married Mr. Brine, who became her trustee.the only time he allowed her out of the Isle of Wight was when they went in quest of her two children, her story ran.

Mrs. Brine, who burst into tears at one point of her evidence, and showed herseIf exceedingly eloquent. was cross-examined by Mr. Spencer Bower, K.C.

Why did you start on the matrimonial correspondence?-For fun.

You thought it would lead to matrimony? Yes, holy matrimony.

You say you are a "widow, young looking, about torty," and inclose a poem entitled “When my whole life was brightest":-!t is a very beautilul poem. (Laughter).

Counsel explained that the poem was a paraphrase of the "Song of Solomon.”

Did you say you were tree? -Yes, I was free. I was in a tangle with a man.

Why did you marry Mr. Witt:-I had known the family for years, and I married in the family for the sake of his brother Francis whom I loved.

How lony had you been loving Francis?

Some years.

Counsel pointed out that Mrs. Brine's mother had made a certain statement.

Mrs. Brine : I never knew my mother to tell the truth. (Laughter).

Mr.Bower: Then you have been unfortunate as mother, wile, and daughter?

Mrs Brine (tragically): Yes, my life has been very tragical.

Where is Mr. Francis Witt? It is just as well he should know about you loving him. You loved one man, so you married his brother? -Yes, I did. (Laughter).

Counsel produced a book, which proved to be a diary, in which Mrs. Brine wrote down romantic things.

EXTRACTS FROM A DIARY.

During the time of her remarkable courtship with Mr. Brine, belore Mr. Witt sought a divorce, she wrote :-

We are inseparables. We wandered away seaward. We found a nook, where we rested. The hush of peace was over land and sea,

This described a walk with Mr. Brine beside the solent. Mrs Brine protested against the meanness of reading a lady's diary.

Other entries were: •

We alighted and spent a while in search of flowers,

Found a floating book on the stars.

My lover and I went out. He bought me a melon and a bottle of ale. Our hearts are inseparably fixed.

Suddenly the diary burst into poetry :-

Life's day will soon be over,

Its lights are tinged with gold,

For the wicket shuts at Sandown,

We both are in the fold.

Junior counsel said that Mr Bower had misquoted. The third line should read "The wicked sports at Sandown.” (Prolonged laughter.)

Mr. Bower (reading from the diary):

"I remember this as the date we became definitely one.”

Mrs Brine : Yes, a platonic kind ol thing.(Laughter).

HUSBANDS EVIDENCE.

Mr Brine's answers when he came to give evidence caused almost as much amusement and gratification as those of his wife.

" You wanted a wife with money?" asked the coupsel. " Yes, I had some property myself" was the reply.

“My present wife's handwriting and features were very similar to those of the wife who is dead and gone,” he added.

Asked about the divorce, Mr. Brine said that there was no ground for it until the proceedings were launched. Then, as he was called " black," he accepted the position.

The Judge: You did not defend the suit in order that the lady might be divorced?

Mr Brine (with a deep sigh) : All that I did was out of sympathy for this good lady.

He continued that he received money from the lady on condition that "he searched for her children and got hold of them if he could.

He had never struck the plaintiff. She sometimes clenched her fists in her sleep when she was dreaming about her mother, and inflicted injury on herself. He had lain awake for hours and watched her (loud laughter).

He denied Mrs Brine’s other allegations.

The jury found a verdict for the defendant, Mr. Brine.”

Sources

1. ↑ https://search.findmypast.com/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0002100%2f19070620%2f028&stringtohighlight=harry%20brine