Sawyer v Hylton Ralph Brisco
Reported in The Times 2 July 1921 Sawyer v Brisco
This was a case of Ms Maude Sawyer trading under the name "Adele" selling woman's clothing from her premises at 24 George Street, Hanover Square. It was alleged that the new wife of Hylton Brisco who married in 1916 started an account at Adele in 1917 and used credit to purchase clothes costing a total of £981-14-6d with the bill unpaid for many months, that's around £42,000 in modern value.
Hylton said that he told his new wife "not to incur any debt as I am very hard up" when Lady Brisco started an account at "Adele" in 1917. The couple went to West Africa in on a hunting trip 5 May 1920 and returning via Liverpool staying at the Piccadilly Hotel, London and then on to Coghurst Hall,Sussex in June 1920.
Hylton suggested that Lady Brisco did not need to have expensive cloths in West Africa as there was no need at the places where they were to stay.
During the case Hylton Ralph suggested that Lady Brisco (Grace Vaughan) had spent lots of money on cloths as she intended to leave him. He got his degree nisi in December 1921 following an admission of adultery by his wife Lady Brisco with a Robert William Campsie. The story that Hylton was "hard up " did not seem to be correct as his estate after he alledgedly drowned at sea in January 1922 only a few months later was worth in excess of £78,727. (£3.2Million)
The court case described Sir Brisco and Lady Brisco departing for a hunting trip to West Africa in August 1919 and they returned on the Ship Accra 5th May 1920. Lady Brisco who was returning with her husband from their hunting trip in West Africa travelling first class is likely to have first met Robert William Campsie who was a trader travelling on the ship from Africa. Letters shown in court reveal the frustration of Lady Grace Brisco with the excess drinking of her husband. Excess drinking by Hylton Ralph was not new but was also an issue that lead to an earlier divorce from Mabel King. When the passengers disembarked at Liverpool Hylton had to look for Lady Grace and found her and Campsie at the Adelphi Hotel. Lady Brisco and Hylton went to the Piccadilly Hotel in London on their way to Coghurst and she was again seen walking with Campsie in Piccadilly. Later at Coghurst revealing letters written by Grace to Campsie were intercepted by her husband revealing her pet name being Bubbles and other intimate thoughts. Lady Grace persuaded Hylton to allow Campsie to visit Coghurst and again compromising events were reported by servants where campsie was seen near to Grace wearing pyjamas. This time it was Hylton who wanted a divorce and was keen to get the divorce issue resolved and the compromising letters were never submitted and a degree nisi issued without any costs to Campsie who was away from Britain travelling.
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A short time later after the death of Hylton Ralph Brisco, lost at sea, the former Lady Grace Brisco returns to court in a case concerning a promissory note and this time she is referred to as Grace Campsie apparently married earlier in the year in March 1922. The allegation was an action against Mr Reginald Ashburnham of Place Farm, Icklesham, Rye Sussex. It was stated that her husband at the time Hylton Ralph said "I will give you £500 so that you can lend it to Reginald and you will get £25 per year in pin money" "If anything happens to me you must ask for the money at once" The court concluded that the note had been destroyed and a new note made out to Hylton Ralph while the divorce was pending and before his death. The claim made by Grace Campsie (formerly Brisco ) was dismissed.
There is no record available that proves a marriage between Grace Brisco (Vaughan) and Robert William Campsie and records show that that she retained her title and name living at her home at Ebury Street Victoria London
2 July 1921 The Times - 42762 Page 4
April 2013
This was a case of Ms Maude Sawyer trading under the name "Adele" selling woman's clothing from her premises at 24 George Street, Hanover Square. It was alleged that the new wife of Hylton Brisco who married in 1916 started an account at Adele in 1917 and used credit to purchase clothes costing a total of £981-14-6d with the bill unpaid for many months, that's around £42,000 in modern value.
Hylton said that he told his new wife "not to incur any debt as I am very hard up" when Lady Brisco started an account at "Adele" in 1917. The couple went to West Africa in on a hunting trip 5 May 1920 and returning via Liverpool staying at the Piccadilly Hotel, London and then on to Coghurst Hall,Sussex in June 1920.
Hylton suggested that Lady Brisco did not need to have expensive cloths in West Africa as there was no need at the places where they were to stay.
During the case Hylton Ralph suggested that Lady Brisco (Grace Vaughan) had spent lots of money on cloths as she intended to leave him. He got his degree nisi in December 1921 following an admission of adultery by his wife Lady Brisco with a Robert William Campsie. The story that Hylton was "hard up " did not seem to be correct as his estate after he alledgedly drowned at sea in January 1922 only a few months later was worth in excess of £78,727. (£3.2Million)
The court case described Sir Brisco and Lady Brisco departing for a hunting trip to West Africa in August 1919 and they returned on the Ship Accra 5th May 1920. Lady Brisco who was returning with her husband from their hunting trip in West Africa travelling first class is likely to have first met Robert William Campsie who was a trader travelling on the ship from Africa. Letters shown in court reveal the frustration of Lady Grace Brisco with the excess drinking of her husband. Excess drinking by Hylton Ralph was not new but was also an issue that lead to an earlier divorce from Mabel King. When the passengers disembarked at Liverpool Hylton had to look for Lady Grace and found her and Campsie at the Adelphi Hotel. Lady Brisco and Hylton went to the Piccadilly Hotel in London on their way to Coghurst and she was again seen walking with Campsie in Piccadilly. Later at Coghurst revealing letters written by Grace to Campsie were intercepted by her husband revealing her pet name being Bubbles and other intimate thoughts. Lady Grace persuaded Hylton to allow Campsie to visit Coghurst and again compromising events were reported by servants where campsie was seen near to Grace wearing pyjamas. This time it was Hylton who wanted a divorce and was keen to get the divorce issue resolved and the compromising letters were never submitted and a degree nisi issued without any costs to Campsie who was away from Britain travelling.
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A short time later after the death of Hylton Ralph Brisco, lost at sea, the former Lady Grace Brisco returns to court in a case concerning a promissory note and this time she is referred to as Grace Campsie apparently married earlier in the year in March 1922. The allegation was an action against Mr Reginald Ashburnham of Place Farm, Icklesham, Rye Sussex. It was stated that her husband at the time Hylton Ralph said "I will give you £500 so that you can lend it to Reginald and you will get £25 per year in pin money" "If anything happens to me you must ask for the money at once" The court concluded that the note had been destroyed and a new note made out to Hylton Ralph while the divorce was pending and before his death. The claim made by Grace Campsie (formerly Brisco ) was dismissed.
There is no record available that proves a marriage between Grace Brisco (Vaughan) and Robert William Campsie and records show that that she retained her title and name living at her home at Ebury Street Victoria London
2 July 1921 The Times - 42762 Page 4
April 2013