Litigation Georgina Weldon

mrs weldon in advertisement pears soap

by 1875 harry weldon had tired of wife s orphanage scheme , growing interest in spiritualism. couple separated, , gave georgina lease tavistock house , £1000 year financial settlement. in 1878 sought reduce or stop payment, , tried use georgina s interest in spiritualism prove insane in attempt have confined in lunatic asylum kept l. forbes winslow. georgina seen necessary 2 doctors, obtained interview under false pretences, pretending interested in musical orphanage. signed lunacy order. georgina realised wrong and, when staff asylum arrived take away force, escaped , evaded capture 7 days order remained valid. went bow street magistrates court press charges assault. magistrate sympathised , convinced sane, but, under victorian law married woman not instigate civil suit against husband. however, having proved point, mrs weldon publicised story giving interviews daily newspapers , spiritualist press, in attempt provoke husband , 2 doctors suing libel.

mrs georgina weldon portrayed spy in vanity fair (1884)

in 1882 georgina weldon sued husband restoration of conjugal rights, refused return tavistock house, marital home. passing of married women s property act in 1882 allowed instigate civil suit against husband had wanted pursue in 1878. in 1882 published history of orphanage, or outpourings of alleged lunatic , how escaped mad doctors. between 1883 , 1888 sued involved in trying have committed in 1878, @ 1 stage, in 1884, having seventeen cases in progress @ same time. represented herself , conducted cases without legal counsel. became known portia of law courts , , image appeared everywhere, in advertisement pears soap. finance legal actions in 1884 sang 2 songs evening @ music hall, london pavilion, , in 1886 appeared in brief run of melodrama not alone, not success.