The Times
London, Middlesex, England
June 13, 1888

JOYNT'S DIVORCE.

     Their Lordships sat this morning to hear counsel and evidence in support of the second reading of a Bill promoted by Mr. Richard Watson Joynt of Ballina, in the county of Mayo, Ireland, the object of which was to dissolve his marriage with Charlotte Barker Joynt, his now wife, and to enable him to marry again.
    The noble and learned lords present were the Lord Chancellor, Lord Watson, Lord Fitzgerald, and Lord Mcnaghten.
     Mr. Coward appeared for the petitoner; the respondent was not represented.
     Mr. L. COWARD, in opening the case in support of the second reading of the Bill, said that his client, Mr. Richard Watson Joynt, was a newspaper proprietor at Ballina, in the county of Mayo, in Ireland. The parties were married at Kilrush, in the county of Clare, on August 8, 1867, and they lived happily to the end of 1879, there being nine children issue of the marriage. At the beginning of 1880 the petitioner received information which induced him to believe that his wife had been unfaithful to him. He thereupon separated from her and brought an action for crim.con. against Mr. James Jackson, the manager of the Bank of Ireland at Ballina, who resided opposite to them, and obtained a verdict for £1,000, with costs. The petitioner had, however, not been able to obtain any portion of the damages and costs. In July of the same year the petitioner obtained a decree of divorce a mensa et thoro in the Irish Matrimonial Court. Mrs. Joynt was now resident in New York, and she had been served under an order of the House with copies of the Bill and the proceedings as far as they had gone. By reason of the costs incurred in legal proceedings and in consequence of want of means the petitioner had been unable to take any further steps to dissolve his marriage until now. Evidence would be given before the Lordships which would establish the case in support of the second reading of the Bill.
     Mr. Samuel M'Cormick of Dublin, the solicitor, acting on behalf of the petitioner proved that substituted service had been made upon Mrs. Joynt in New York.
     Mr. Richard Waston Joynt, the petitioner, said that he was a newspaper proprietor residing in Ballina in the county of Mayo, in Ireland. He married his wife in 1867, and they lived happily until 1879 when he had cause for the first time to suspect her of infidelity with Mr. Jackson. In January of 1880 he received the following letter from her:-
                       "Richill, January 19, 1880.
     "Dear Dick,- Mr. Orr has given me your message. As a very painful duty I take up my pen once more to write on the unpleasant subject of my ruin. I feel that I owe a duty to my friends, and therefore-God is my judge-I shall tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. If possible I would spare Mr. Jackson, but that cannot be done unless I perjure myself. you know when you married me I was the purest of women. The thought of such sad deeds as the devil has tempted me to had never found entrance to my brain or heart. I believe that soon after my arrival at Ballina Mr. Jackson began to look admiringly at me. He told me so about three years ago. He even delighted to look at my beautiful little babies as they grew up, and the nurses used to tell me of his remarks as to the weather being too cold for them to be out, &c., if he met them, and on one occasion, as a magistrate, he tried to lighten the punishment of Bridget Kape, otherwise Ormsby, who was at Court for beating her husband. Mr. Jackson told me he was thinking of me then, knowing Bridget had been Alice's nurse. I thanked him, but expressed disappointment that he had not pronounced worse sentence. Maggie Cafferty was our servant. She first brought about the acquaintance. She told me that Mr. Jackson said I was a very nice little woman, and he heard I was a 'decent soul,' and he would like to speak to me and how could he manage it. It never occurred to me that it was out of place for him to talk thus to a servant. The first time he spoke to me was on a Sabbath evening; you were at church, Maggie was at the hall door, Mr. Jackson was walking outside. The plan had evidently been made up. 'Come here, ma'am, ' said Maggie, 'for a moment, please,' and when I went over Mr. J. was standing in the door way. He commenced to talk in a pleasant, off-hand style, and I answered him innocently enough. I knew I chatted to him, thought the only question I remember him asking was how many children I had. I remember his saying he considered if foolish to have too many,and had often spoken to his father seriously upon the responsibility they incurred. All this time Maggie was in Mostyn's office, and the hall door open. We stood talking there, and after conversation for about ten minutes he shook hands with me and went away. I thought no more about him, only that he was a fine, jolly, big man, and very good-looking. After a day or two Maggie said, Mr. Jackson won't be content till he speaks to you again, ma'am, and I told him I would get him asked in sure some evening.' 'Oh! nonsense,' said I,' what good will that do him. The master would not like it.' The next time he spoke to me was one night when you were at Kilcummin. He and Maggie had, I suppose, arranged for I know I was not even ready for visitors of any kind. I had been house cleaning all day. You remember I set up the new clock from Jameson's. I now, after cleaning and dusting the house, washed my hair and brightened myself a bit, but my hair was all about me, uncombed, and only dried after washing, and i was so rakish-looking I was afraid of any one seeing me. Maggie had been out, and I went to let her in and as I hid behind the door she said, 'Oh! ma'am. Mr. Jackson's outside, speak to him.' 'Not in this trim,' said I. But somehow, before I knew, he was got into the hall, and trying to take his watch off my wild-looking head and only a morning dress at 9 at night, asked him if he had his keys about him and if he would open the clock. He threw down his stick and took me in his arms and kissed me. I walked upstairs, and he followed me, and I said, 'Oh! my poor husband; go away, Mr Jackson,' and he went after that. I believe I never left his thoughts. He left no means untried to gain me. I fought it out as long as I could but at last he made me love him. I have been more than his wife. He loved me wildly. He told me he would have died for me. I have met him in daylight. I have met him at night, when the world was sleeping. He has walked miles to see me. Car drivers can be had, and if necessary I shall in a very short time substantiate all proofs, but I want to be as merciful as possible, for I loved him, indeed I did, and many a happy hour I have spent in the Bank of Ireland-many a one. I know it well from top to cellar. I know Woodbine Cottage well, too, and Scurmase. He was kind, he was gentlemanly, he was intensely fond of me. The very touch of his hand was happiness to me. I have risked my life often for his sake. I confess my guilt. He need not deny anything. He first loved me; he trusted me with all his mind, banking affairs and all. Every dinner he went to he told me and every journey he took I knew from him. He gave me plenty of money and presents. His great dread was my taking drink. Twenty witnesses I can give you if necessary but I am weary and heartsore. When Leonard was in Ballina I was wretched. I told Mr. Jackson I felt very wicked and I would give him up. He replied he would take no humbug from me; so I met him again. I said I would give him up, but he would not hear of it. He was nearly mad about my going to Dublin with Mr. and Mrs. Baxter; he was so jealous. Mr. Baxter is free- free as the child unborn. He never had undue intimacy with me. I believe him to be my sincere friend. I got a fright one night when I went to meet Mr. Jackson. Got only knows what I have gone through for Mr. Jackson and although he commenced my ruin I upbraid him not. I met him in Dublin in September, and when I was at my father's in November 12 months he wrote to me. He was at the Grenville Arms Hotel, Millinger, and he wanted me to meet him on my way home. He went to tell ' John G.' telegraphed to him from Kilrush as 'J.B.' He always gave me money when I went from home and after or before I was sick. He gave me money in Dublin. I could have run away long ago, only for my children. I was so fond of them. He brought me lots of gloves from Dublin and he gave me the large rug. Dudgeon can tell you that. He used to send me grapes and champagne, and one one occasion he gave me about two dozen pocket-handkerchiefs. Again, one night I was up in his bedroom; he gave me more. The night I jumped out of bed at Enniscrone-do you recollect the night?- there were footsteps behind the house. It was he, and I sent him home. And now I shall say no more. I have told you no falsehoods, and Mr. Jackson will injure, and not help himself by denying facts, for proofs as strong as Holy Writ can in a very short time be found. He,and he alone, lured me from my husband and implanted in my mind the first sinful thought concerning the other sex. He coaxed me, and sent me into a delirium. I was by him as though mesmerized, and even now in my downfall and dejection I would if I could say something to lighten his sorrow and trouble-- LOTTIE JOYNT."
     He had taken the necessary legal proceedings to enable him to promote this Bill, but he had been hampered by want of means since 1880, and, therefore, had been unable to bring in this Bill before.
     Other evidence having been given,
     The LORD CHANCELLOR said that the history of this case was a very melancholy one. It appeared to him that the petitioner had clearly established a case, which entitled him to the relief he prayed for. He, therefore, moved their Lordships that the Bill be read a second time.
    The Bill was then read a second time.