Preece Family Tree

An Exeter Divorce.

In the Divorce Division on Tuesday Mr Justice Barnes heard the case of Sweetland v Sweetland. The petitioner, Mrs Elizabeth Ellen Sweetland, living at Exeter, sued for a divorce from her husband, Mr William Edward Sweetland, against whom she alleged cruelty and misconduct. There was no defence. Petitioner said the marriage took place on the 11th March, 1885, at St Thomas Church and she and her husband lived together until November, 1891. Her husband had on one occasion seized her by the throat; on another occasion he took hold of her by the nose and blacked her eyes; and at another time he blacked one eye and bruised her side. He threw her on the bed and threatened to cut her throat and had been fined by the magistrates. After that there was a deed of separation. His Lordship granted a decree nisi.