Curious Breach of Promise.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 95, 21 April 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

Curious Breach of Promise.

The Lady Barber and the Barrister,

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

Loxdox, March 2. For sometime past one of the faireßfc operators ab the famous lady barber's shop in Chancery Lane .haa beea conspicuous only by her absence. Tender inquiries revealed the fact that the young lady had met ' with an accident),' but its nature did not transpire till yesterday, when Miss Ch9ttle appeared as plaintiff in a breach of promise case, the defendant being one, Wicks, a barrister. Mr Abinger, in opening the case for the plaintiff, paid that his client was a native of Swan&ea, and in August, 1892, came up to London and commenced her duties as a lady barber. (Laughter.) This arrangement continued in operation until April last year, wheu the defendant apoeared upon the scene. He said that be wa*s a barrister. Perhaps he was ab the Bar, bat at all events he was constantly in Chancery-lane, and in the lady barber's shop in that thoroughfare. The plaintiff was there in the service of Mrß Groser, and there the defendanb paid her a considerable amount of attention. He asked > Mrs Groser who she was ; he sought permission to call upon her ; and after she had shaved him—(laughter)—he asked if he might be allowed to walk out with her. (Renewed laughter.) In June he suggested thab they should have an afternoon and an evening ab the Crystal Palace. On the 15fch of June Mrs Grocer was asked to let the plaintiff leave earlier than ueual, because the defendant wanted to take her to the Crystal Palace, and the fireworks or something else at that place seemed so to have influenced Mr Wicks that he took the opportunity to ask the lady if she would consent to be his wife. She said that she certainly had an affection for him, bub she would like to know more about him, and she referred to the fact that, whilst he was a member of the bar, she was in the humble bub honourable occupation ot a lady shaver. (Loud laughter.) He said thab be did not care for that. He was earning large sums of money in his practice; he had a rich father, and an income of £900 a year. It was under these circumstances that the plaintiff acceptedhim. The first question that arose after,-, wards was as to the day of marriage. Sho» wanted the day put off, and he wanted it to be as early as possible. It was finally appointed to take place in August, and defendant committed an account of what had taken place at the Crystal Palace to paper, in what he called a poem. It said :

Once I met in London Town, Totally unexpected, A little girl of no renown. With whom I got connected. She sang no song of ancient raco, Of pride, great wealth, or glory; But all day long she shaved the face Of Liberal or Tory. —(Laughter) But later on a change came on; She could not call her heart her own Because of him, with wig and gown, Who very frequently came down, —(Laughter) On Thursday, the 15th of June; Under the light of stars and moon. They to the Crystal Palace strolled, To see the fireworks so bold. There being many pretty trees. Under their shade they took their ease. . From Arthur's heart his love did pour, But Lottie could or would not hear. •

Then by a lovely lake they walked And argued flrot; but then they talked Of things in general and nonsense. Then they sat down under the trees again. So Arthur's heart did long to tell How much he loved his darling girlWhen Lottie looked him in the face, And said *Go on' and 'Keep your place.' —(Laughter)- ... He prayed her to be his wifo. To guide and guard his future life— His troubles and his joys to share j But Lottie protended not to hear. Then Arthur disappointed grew, And positively did not know what to do. But conscience came to Lottie's heart. And for Arthur's arms she made a dart. —(Laugher.) She told him that she loved him well, But hadn't got the pluck to tell When he had begged and prayed her To end suspense and call him near. But once the gate became ajar, AH her love from near and far Was given him who knew its worth Was better far than heaven or earth. And now this little tale mußt close, Except the writer no one knows. His happiest day without pretext Will be the 2nd of August next, When Lottie Chettle's name trill be,

From then to all eternity, Lottie Wicks, the wife of him Who lias composed this short poem. -•(Laughter.) With my best love and beat wishes, In memoriam de die felicis. 22,6, '93. ' A. W. WICKB. The courtship continued wibhoub any suggestion of impropriety, and on the 22nd of the same month the defendant invited her to a theatre, where he presented her with a very beautiful diamond and ruby ring, and introduced her to a friend of his. Afterwards on a river trip he fixed the wedding for the 17th July. She got ready her wedding trosseau. As the 17th July approached the plaintiff wrote to her father, mother, and sister to come up to be present ab the marriage, and on the 15th they arrived in London. As defendant did nob marry her on the day fixed, plaintiff made enquiries. She had never known any bub his City address, bub she ascertained that he was living ab Moore's Villa, and went there. The landlady said that I the defendant was a married man with a family. This announcement had such an effect upon the plaintiff that she nearly fainted away. But she got home, flung off her ring, and locked herself in her room. The defendant afterwards called and tried to kiss her, bub she would not let him do so. He .said that he was nob a married man. It was true, he admitted, that he had, two years ago, in South Africa gone through a conbracbof matrimony with a woman, but she was nob his wife, because he had found out that her husband was alive at the time, and had, at the time ho was speaking, on'y recently died. He said that he would give her proof of this if ehe went to his house, and when she did go she found the place furnished in a most luxurious manner. He showed her a photograph of the woman, anji arranged that she should go next day to the Safe Company's place in Chancerylane, where he showed her a number of documents to prove that he was nob married at all. She was convinced. On the 26th July they were to go to the theatre, and he begged of Mrs Barett, her landlady, thab she mighb have a latchkey. He signed a document promising to settle £16,000 upon her the day after marriage. The result was thab she was seduced, he obtained unlimited command over her, and the marriage was put off from time to time, and was never in fact performed. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, damages £300.