File 5 - Fenwick V Trench.

File of records result from the Fenwick V Trench lawsuit.
In 1890 Dr Bedford Fenwick sued Benjamin Bloomfield Trench for slander.

Dr Fenwick argues that 'In the month of February 1890 the defendant falsely and maliciously spoke and published of the plaintiff the words following "Dr Bedford Fenwick (meaning the plaintiff) is not a man of honor. He has been engaged to a young lady and has broken off the engagement and threatened to publish her letters unless he was paid the sun of £50". meaning whereby that the plaintiff was a dishonest man upon whose word no reliance could be placed and that he had broken his promise to marry a young lady and had feloniously demanded with menaces £50 the monies of the said young lady lady with intent to steal the same from her and had been guilty of an indictable? offence.'
Fenwick then argued that Benjamin Bloomfield Trench spread these rumors with the intent of calling into question Dr Fenwick's ability to act as honorary secretary of the British Nurses Association.
Defence document disagreeing with above accusation.

The file includes a Writ issued the 5th June 1890 and a copy of Benjamin Bloomfield Trench's defence in which he denies making the above statement.