LADY AND COACHMAN. Strange Sequel to an Elopement

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11224, 6 April 1904, Page 5

LADY AND COACHMAN. Strange Sequel to an Elopement

The romantic story .of a fcfiy. who married „ a coachman was unfolded -in. alc^fle at Leicester Assizes on February 16th. " The. plaintiff was Albert Edward Smith, a coachman, and the defendants were Robert ' Walker Kaye and Charles Bernard Robinson. The plaintiff sought damages lay ' reason of the defendants enticing- away .and wrongfully harbouring his wife. \. ' .v '. -' • - - . Counsel told how Smith, who .served with the Imperial ,Yeomanry inTSpuih . Africa; 'had become a coachman in the .employment of>Mr Kaye. Miss Kayfe^reqiSemtly stayed with her brother, affd from 'constant dnve»out with plaintiff mutual .affection resulted. However, plaintiff said nothing till one^day, when, out riding together, Miss Kaye, recognising the difficult circumstances, iheteelf declared her love for him, and aaked him to correspond with_ her. . Affectionate . letters and meetings fqlloWcSj, and in Pdbruary of last year they/became secretly, engaged. -' * *'■ ' " I' ' In one of her letter»~fc> smitb -tiw i*&y ■wrote: — "I may tell t f oo. that my feelings towards you will never" change to my dying day, and even then-thai which I feel for you will pass On with me to/ the next s .World. Love contes 1 but once." An aunt the lady died in March; leaving her £4500 and a reversionary interest in spine. other money, and, after a fime~, Miss Kaye and Smith were married. . -' " ' •

Counsel 'said that, the action \jaa v for enticing away from the plaintiff hi* wife, and, when she was away from' him, inducing her to stop away; . Before she -wae taken ,away~he said taken away- apparently; al r most, if not entirely,* by •force^u'nt^-JJy&n . not an angry word W&'eyet'passefr between - them of any&ifyl of description., Sine* aha had left ;him he had- not'heord a * F<s* f* o**0 ** her. He had not "been able -to, gain- mccetm to her, and, so far a^ ( he Relieved, »he had been prevented/fro^'fcori^Bponding with . him. ' ' . '■''•'. '..'"'."/ In. evidence plaintiff said he considered , his flesh and blqod. & gottd as his master's. .The latter wanted ium'^o^inar^ V.houfce- . ntaid; but he declined^ to ,hate a wife ie- • lected for him by his master. Witnefi# added, "X told him.l shou^d~m«rry the avjt I .loved, and' I did."'" Crppa-examiped; th» plaintiff , said it was nofc^trtie that he had entertained no- idea of 'marryingj Miss Kay» until he heard thajb shft hid >een -left' a large sum of monfey.. The; defenda,ntp .arrived at B6lt<)n,two days jafter'th.e marriage,and Kaye burst intp r tiie- rooni without permission and sajd, .'Smith, yo^ axfr a. acoundrel. Wnere is my sistey?^ ; Witnesa Replied, "My wife is-upfftatiß?i"-. A^de^ectiye, who accompanied them;- kept witness in .conversation. whUe , defendants i" took.'hi* : wifa "..-Mar Justice Wright, in summing up, saio. tliat no matter whether, it,<w'aa, a case.ofi diilte and' a»iiyin«fidy,or 4*4^jr^ a * n - ;<^ < '';'™ tle^" essr^he parties had equal ri^ ts, and in <M» instance plaintifF,-deß.pite.his, positaoa;: w*b ■entitled to the benefite.of:his marnfge,:lf v <tne iury believed the defen'dantr want' to . Bolton with the intention- of Smith*- to leave ' her husband 1 they^w«f»

The jury found a ver^cfc,?oi;,p}^sttiff,' anfl awarded him. i£soo damages. ; * :> v ""