These extracts give some idea of the range of witnesses called in the trial, and the manner in which Charles Hambleton CRYMES responded to the accusations against him.

Mrs. Francis Murray, a widow, who from 1903 to 1905 lived next door to Mr. and Mrs. Kemp-Welch at the Crescent, Barnes, said that in February 1905 she had a conversation with Mrs. Kemp-Welch in reference to Mr. Crymes.

Counsel:	What did you say in reference to Mr. Crymes?
Mrs. Murray:	I told her that a lady had warned me that he was not a good man, and I warned her

Witness added that in the early part of 1905 she was not well one night, and she called her servant and sat at the window of her bedroom for fresh air. She then saw Mr. Crymes going out of the gate in front of Mr. Kemp-Welch's house. That was between 2.30 and 2.45. The previous day Mrs. Kemp-Welch had informed her that her husband would not be at home that night.

Counsel:	People came to see you about the infamous charge you made against Mr. Crymes, and you withdrew it
Mrs. Murray:	I did not withdraw it
Counsel:	Did you write a letter to the Rector, who came and saw you about it?
Mrs. Murray:	Yes
Counsel:	And after hearing all you had to say was the Rector satisfied there was no imputation upon Mr. Crymes?
Mrs. Murray:	The Rector, as he left, placed his fingers on his lips, which I took to mean that I was to say nothing

Pauline Etherington, charwoman, said she once asked Mrs. Kemp-Welch who the gentleman (the co-respondent) was, and was told by the lady he "was a very dear friend"

Counsel:	Have you ever seen any act of familiarity between Mr. Crymes and Mrs. Kemp-Welch?
Mrs. Etherington:	Yes, I have seen her sitting on his knee
Counsel:	How often?
Mrs. Etherington:	I cannot say how many times. It was in the dining-room, on the sofa

Another time, the witness said, she went into the drawing-room and found Mrs. Kemp-Welch and the co-respondent together in a compromising position. Another time witness told Mrs. Kemp-Welch she was a "wicked woman".

Counsel:	What did she say?
Mrs. Etherington:	Oh - 'Absurd, ridiculous, nonsense'. I told her I would not go there again

Mr. Stanley KEMP-WELCH, the father of the petitioner in the divorce suit, said the subject of the intimacy between his son's wife and the co-respondent was first talked about in the family in 1906. In September 1908 he spoke to the co-respondent and in October 1908, interviewed the wife. He explained to Mrs. Kemp-Welch that the children had been taken away as they did not wish them to be exposed to the disgraceful scenes which it was understood had been going on in the house during the few previous days.

Mr. KEMP-WELCH's Counsel, to Mrs. Kemp-Welch:

Counsel:	Mrs. Murray, who was your next door neighbour, says that she has seen Mr. Crymes leaving you house between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning
Mrs. K-W:	It is not true
Counsel:	Can you give us any reason why Mrs. Murray should make up that story?
Mrs. K-W:	No, I cannot
Counsel:	Is it a fact that both your relatives and those of your husband thought it unwise that Mr. Crymes should be on such terms of intimacy?
Mrs. K-W:	I think they said something about it

Mr. KEMP-WELCH's Counsel, cross-examining Charles Hambleton CRYMES:

Counsel:	You would not do anything to compromise a lady's honour?
CHC:	Not knowingly
Counsel:	You were married in 1894, and your wife left you in 1895 after a child had been born?
CHC:	Yes
Counsel:	Was a second child born eight months after she left you?
CHC:	Yes
Counsel:	That child is still living with her mother?
CHC:	I can't say. I have not seen them for 10 years. I last saw them when Mrs. Crymes came back to me for a month
Counsel:	When you were a curate at St. Mary Magdalene, Paddington, did you pass as a widower?
CHC:	Most certainly not
Counsel:	Did the Vicar tell you to leave suddenly?
CHC:	Certainly not
Counsel:	Do you know this gentleman? (pointing to an elderly man in court)
CHC:	No, I do not
Counsel:	Do you know that lady? (handing up a piece of paper with a name written on it)
CHC:	I did
Counsel:	Is that lady a relative of the gentleman?"
CHC:	I can't say. I don't recognise him
Counsel:	Did not the Vicar tell you to leave in consequence of complaints made by this gentleman, who said that he would speak to the Bishop unless you left?
CHC:	Certainly not

Mr. Barnard [counsel] pointed to a clergyman in court and said that he was a fellow curate of the witness at the time in question.

Counsel:	Do you still repeat your denial?
CHC:	Yes
Counsel:	(Handing up another piece of paper) While you were there was there trouble over this lady also?
CHC:	Certainly not
Counsel:	Did you not pass yourself as a widower, and was there not a scandal because you were about to lunch with this lady?
CHC:	Certainly not
Counsel:	I put it to you that it was in consequence of this that the Bishop asked that your wife should return to you.
CHC:	No

In answer to further questions the witness [CHC] said that there was a deed of separation between him and his wife, under the terms of which he received the income of £7,000, money provided by her father. The deed stipulated that no proceedings for judicial separation should be taken.

Mr. Crymes then denied that he had behaved improperly to a servant in the kitchen of the house of Mr. Murray, where he was once a paying guest.
Mr. Barnard [Mr. KEMP-WELCH's Counsel] produced a photograph of Mrs. Murray.

Counsel:	Did you take this photograph?
CHC:	I did not take it, to my knowledge
Counsel:	You swear you did not take it?
CHC:	I do not remember taking it
The Judge:	This is a serious matter. If you are committing perjury you may be tried for it elsewhere
CHC's Counsel:	My lord, I respectfully suggest that it is undesirable -
The Judge:	(breaking in very warmly): I will not be lectured even by such an eminent member of the Bar as yourself, Sir Edward. I am cautioning the witness
CHC's Counsel:	But to suggest to him that he may be tried elsewhere -
The Judge:	I am entitled to suggest to him the seriousness of his position. It is not a threat. It is a caution
CHC:	I know nothing about the photograph
The Judge:	That is a proper answer

David Chrimes 2020

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