Lot 681

Description

Mildura, fob medal struck in gold (15ct, 19.5g, 40mmx35mm), no maker, ring top suspension, reverse inscribed 'Presented/By a Few/Catholics of Mildura/To Sen.Con.Carter/In Recognition Of His Services/In The Divorce Case/Hall v Hall/On Feby 27th 1901'. Very fine.

In June 1899 Charles Hall, butcher of Mildura, sought a divorce from his wife, Jane Hall, on the grounds of misconduct with a young man named Wilson, and a decree nisi was granted. Subsequently the Attorney-General intervened and instructed the Crown-Solicitor to apply for a rehearing of the case. At the hearing Wilson admitted that his story about intimacy with the respondent was trumped up and that he had been paid by the petitioner to tell it to the court. At the close of the petitioner's case Mr Justice Hood said the story by the petitioner was full of contradictions and absurdities. His case was made up of conspiracy, fraud and perjury, which, had the court been aware of, the decree nisi would never have been granted. He would commit Bornholm (one of the witnesses) and Hall for perjury, would set aside the decree nisi, with costs against petitioner, and he strongly recommended that an inquiry be instituted to see if there was sufficient evidence to prefer a charge of conspiracy. The two men were committed for trial.

The series of cases were sensational at the time with Mildura's first policeman, Senior Constable Ambrose Beaumont Carter being instrumental in investigating.

With research.