« Reply #13 on: Monday 03 November 14 13:15 GMT (UK) »
A summary of the 1914 news reports:
- Under Irish law, Henry required an Act of Parliament for the dissolution of the marriage.
- The Pack-Beresfords were a well-known Irish family.
- Sybil was wealthy, with some £70,000 in Consols and a large house in Algiers.
- Henry and Sybil married in Berkshire and were initially happy.
- Two sons were born to the marriage (Oct 1905, May 1907).
- In 1912 Maj Henry P-B's military duties caused them to take up residence at Gorran Tower nr Glasgow where they met and befriended Capt Charles Burnett, a subaltern in the same regiment.
- In November 1912 Sybil went to London for Christmas shopping and appeared depressed a few weeks later.
- When questioned by her husband, Sybil admitted misconducting herself with Capt Burnett but Henry forgave her for the sake of their children.
- Sybil later gave birth to a daughter of whom Henry disclaimed paternity, and Sybil confessed to further misconduct with Capt Burnett.
- Henry afterwards received a letter from Sybil saying she had gone to Paris and wanted a divorce.
- Evidence from hotel staff in both London and Paris suggested Sybil had stayed with Capt Burnett.
- Capt Burnett agreed to pay a sum of damages to Major Pack-Beresford, fixed according to his means which were "practically nothing".
Ayr: Barnes, Wylie
Caithness: MacGregor
Essex: Eldred (Pebmarsh)
Gloucs: Timbrell (Winchcomb)
Hants: Stares (Wickham)
Lincs: Maw, Jackson (Epworth, Belton)
London: Pierce
Suffolk: Markham (Framlingham)
Surrey: Gosling (Richmond)
Wilts: Matthews, Tarrant (Calne, Preshute)
Worcs: Milward (Redditch)
Yorks: Beaumont, Crook, Moore, Styring (Huddersfield); Middleton (Church Fenton); Exley, Gelder (High Hoyland); Barnes, Birchinall (Sheffield); Kenyon, Wood (Cumberworth/Denby Dale)