THE DUN MOW FLITCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9617, 15 September 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DUN MOW FLITCH.

Thousands of holiday-makers visited Dunmow recently, to witness the trials for the historic flitch of bacon. Oub of nearly a dozen couples applying for entry three were selected to take their trial. These were Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Fahie, of Dublin ; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Binyon, of Leominster; and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Welch, of Essenden, Herts. Mr. Fahie is a Justice of the Peace for Dublin, and his profession is that of a civil and electrical engineer. He married an Essex lady in August of last year, just in time to qualify for the bacon. Mr. and Mrs. Binyon, of Leominster, are members of the Society of Friends, Mr. Binyon being a merchant clothier. This couple, however, withdrew from the ordeal at the last moment. It is believed thab they underwent a greab deal of pressure from members of the Society of Friends nob to carry their claim through. Mr. Welch is a platelayer on the railway. The trials took place in a large and suitably appointed marquee. Mr. J. M. Welch, auctioneer, was judge; Mr. Robert Marsh was counsel for the claimants, and Mr. F. W. Bartley defended the bacon, which— decorated with coloured ribbons—depended from a pole in the court. The jury consisted of six maidens and six bachelors. The Fahies' case was firsb heard. The counsel elicited that the justice of the peace and his wife had lived mosb happily together, without any unpleasantness. Mr. Marsh said the granting of the bacon to those Would do more to promote the union of hearts between England and the Emerald Isle than anything thab had been conceived for years. The jury retired to consider their verdict, and returned to say they would like to have the claimants questioned on the subject of Home Rule for Ireland. This was done, and the answers being satisfactory, a verdicb was returned for the claimaints. Thanking the Court, Mr. Fahie said he should be more attached to England, and to Essex, than ever, now he had won the bacon. The second couple were then examined. They vowed they had never had a cross word, and a testimonial from a lady said that neither had ever uttered a word indicative of a wish to be single again, and thab the "little dears" seemed made to play with one another. This claim was also allowed.