arrow The Northern News arrow March 26, 1898 arrow March 26 1898 Clitheroe Abduction Case
March 26 1898 Clitheroe Abduction Case Print E-mail
CLITHEROE ABDUCTION CASE.

MRS. JACKSON, of Clitheroe, the lady whose abduction by her husband caused
so great a sensation a few years ago, died on Monday morning at her
residence at Clitheroe.  Some days ago she had her foot lanced.  It is
supposed that some of the dye from her stocking penetrated the wound, for
directly afterwards, blood poisoning set in, and she died after a few days'
illness.

She was wealthy, and was patroness of the living of Clitheroe Parish Church.
MR. JACKSON received the first intimation of his wife's illness by an
anonymous letter sent to his address in Blackburn.  He at once went to
Clitheroe, but his wife was dead on his arrival.

MRS. JACKSON was about 50 years of age, and was the youngest daughter of the
late MR. H. HALL, solicitor, of Clitheroe.

The case with which MRS. JACKSON was associated arose in 1891.  MRS.
JACKSON, who lived in Clitheroe with her sister, married MR. JACKSON in
November, 1887, without the knowledge of her family.  On the evening of the
marriage, the husband took her back to the house, and the next day left for
New Zealand.  During his absence MRS. JACKSON corresponded with him, but
when, in July, 1888 he returned to England, she refused to have anything to
do with him.

In July, 1889, he obtained a decreee for the restitution of conjugal rights,
but that decree MRS. JACKSON refused to obey.  On March 8, 1891, as she was
leaving church, she was seized and forcibly carried away by her husband to
Blackburn, and detained there in a house occupied by his sister.

MRS. JACKSON was kept in captivity, the house being garrisoned by men.  On
this becoming known, her friends applied to the Queen's Bench for a writ of
habeas corpus.  Mr. Justice CAVE and Mr. Justice JEUNE declined to grant a
rule, holding that the detention was not illegal.

Subsequently the case came before the Court of Appeal, where it was argued
on MR. JACKSON's behalf that he had a common law right to gain possession of
his wife, and to keep her by force if necessary.

The Judges of the Court of Appeal subsequently had an interview with MRS.
JACKSON in their private room, and then gave judgment directing that she
should be set at liberty.

The Lord Chancellor (LORD HALSBURY) laid it down, two other Appeal Judges
assenting, that where a wife refuses to live with her husband, he is not
entitled to keep her in confinement.
 
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