A Woman Scorned.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 268, 9 November 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

A Woman Scorned.

Domestic and Dramatic Medley Told at

Bow-street.

(BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

London, September 19. One of those stories, sadder and stranger than 4 Family Herald ' fiction, which from time to time crop up ab London Police Courts, enlivsned the proceedings at Bowetreeb on Tuesday. The defendant- was Catherine Molenoir, a smartly - dressed languishing young woman, charged on a warranb wibh threats. Mr C. W. Williams, who appeared for the prosecution, stated bhab one of the'complainanta waa Mr Shipway, who made bbc acquainbance of bhe defendanb some time since when ahe applied to him for a loan. He afterwards pub her in a house of his own, the arrangemenb being bhat ahe was bo keep ib aa a boarding-house, bub bhe undertaking proved unsuccessful financially, and it was ultimately agreed by both parties thab ib should be given up and the defendanb was to quit the houee on September 3 laat. Three days before this date the dafendanfc followed Mra Shipway (the other complainant) in the street, and threatened to stab her ir_ the back. On September IT the defendant meb Mr Shipway in bhe Sbrand and ahe bhen bhreabened bo sbab him. On the 14th September the defendant called ab bhe houae of complainanb and inquired for Mr Shipway. She was disguised As a Sister of Mercy on this occasion, and bhe aervanb who opened the door did not recognise her. She waa ahown into the dining-room, and when Mr Shipway entered the room he ab once ordered her out of the houae, but abe declined to leave, and had to be ejected, not, however, before she had torn down the curtaina and done other damage. Both complainants went in bodily fear, and Mrs Shipway, who waa a member of the theatrical profeaaion, had been obliged to give up an important engagemenb through the nervous condition she was in in consequence of the defendant's threats. George James Shipway, of 81, Gowersfcreefc, said he was a financial agent. He first became acquainted with fche defendant when she called upon him with reference to an advance. Witness then gave evidence bearing out counsel's opening ebabemenb. Prisoner's Strange Statement. When asked if ahe bad any queabions, the defendanb replied, in a voice broken with emobion. 'Nearly e^ery word that haa been aaid ia false. When I first meb this man I was aelling newspapers in the street, and be met me and asked me to meeb him the nexb day. And I said "No, you are a married man." He turned bo hia companion, a Mr Raphael, and said, "Am I a married man ." He laughed and aaid "Of courae nob." And I mat thia man the nexb day. lb waa bhe first wrong step I took in my whole life. And I loved this man ; and I still love him, and I shall ever love him no matter whab he does with me. I lefc his house ao that he should have peace with hia wife, and he promised fco come to see me every day.' Here she paused and sobbed. The witness was continuing to apeak of fche thrfii-td that she had used fco him when she interrupted him again. ' I never threatened to stab this man. He is sacred to me, and I would never hurt a hair of hia head. All I asked waa that be ■ would' gittt _m_ 10'taitvatea' iutorvi&w aloae —alone—so that his heart might apeak to mine. I have written to him again and again asking for only 10 minutes alone so that he might tell me what was in hia heart, and he would nob grant even that to me. His conduct had made me seem loathesome fco myself, and I aaid : " I will pub a knife bhrough myself and die at your feet!" Thoee were all tho threats I used.'' In reply to Sir John Bridge she aaid : He said he would put me in the boardinghouse, and that it would be a good living for. me and help me fco bring up my children—for. I have five. Bub ib was only last Friday bhab I knew this man's name was Shipway. To me he waa always Tyrrel, V. alter Tyrell. The Wife's Evidence. Dora Shipway, wife of tho previous witness, waa then called. Sho said ahe waa a member of the theatrical profeaaion. She gave her evidence with melodramatic effect.. She described how the prisoner came up to her and aaid, 'I will bring a knife and atab you through the back,' and much more to the same effect. Ib had thrown her into a dreadfully nervous state, ahe eaid, and ehe was in fear of her life because of this woman. Sir John Bridge : Do you know anything about her selling papers ?—Yes. She went about the streets, selling papers with her hair hanging down her back, and short skirts and a fancy bodice—quieb a theatrical get up. Ib may be mentioned that fche prisoner's hair, though not exactly golden, was yet of a bright golden brown, and it would probably reach quite a long way down her back. Sergeanb Ford, 11 E, stated that he apprehended the prisoner in Lamb's Conduit-street, when she was walking with two children. When he read the warrant to her she said, 'It is all false. I never threatened Mr Shipway, but I have threatened my own life. Prisoner : I did threaten my own life, but I know now tbat it was wrong. Without a Husband. Sir John Bridge : Are you able to support yourself 1 Prisoner : No, I have never been brought up to any business : and ib ia through this man that 1 am homeless, penniless and without a husband. My husband warned me againsb this man. He said. ' You don't know the world, my girl, I do. Don't have anything to do with this man ; ho ia a scamp.' I aaid, 'No. He is a good, true, pure, honest; man, and he has promised to : love mo through life." Other Ladies. Dora Shipway, recalled, said that she knew her husband had got mixed up wibh b!_is lady a great deal and he had gone to the theatre with her many times, but she mu3t be candid and say that he bad gone to the theatre a great many times with other ladies in her absence on professional 1 engagements. Another Spef.cu From the. Dock. Sir John Bridge then ordered the case to be put back, but as the prisoner was being removed she appealed to the magistrate : ' Can't I speak again ?' Sir John : What dou you wish to say? , Prisoner : Mra Shipway, during the time she wae under the same roof as I, went about finding oub all sho could aboub ny pasb—how I had married a man and ruined him—alio said. She told this before the servants and made a dreadful scone, and all ■■ thi. after I had signed papers giving up the house. Sir John Bridge : You are not doing yourself any good by this. Have you no friends who will take care of you ? Prisoner : No, all my friends have deserted me eince I have known this man. It is only right and proper that I should be punished—for my sin—in loving thia man—l deaire it—it will be—my atonement— And so saying she waa led oub of the dock, sobbipg. '