FASCINATING AT FIFTEEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 76, 30 March 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

FASCINATING AT FIFTEEN.

MIDDLE-AGED RECTOR SUED FOR

BREACH OF PROMISE.

An amusing breach of prpmise case was heard at Northampton Assizes on the Bth of last month.

The maiden was Miss Emily Francis Burton, of The Grange, Stanwick, Northamptonshire, who confessed to sixteen summers, and whose counsel described her as a very handsome young woman. She sued the Rev. Henry Edward Barnacle, Incumbent of Cottlsford, Oxfordshire, for £1000. Mr Marshall Hall, K.C., was her champion, and told a sorrowful tale of blighted affection.

According to Mr Hall's story the rector; a man of forty or more, behaved in very love-stricken fashion. He could not bear to let Miss Burton be out of his sight. He went to her Sunday-school class, followed her home, took her to the rectory, walked her round the gardens, and so on. Then he told her he loved her, and he kissed her and put his arms round her, and asked her to become his wife.

For months these loving relations continued, and then came the dark time, when ho had to go to America. He asked the girl he loved for a lock of her hair, which she lovingly g.ivc. He promised to wear it next his heart, and Mr Hall thought it very likely that he put it near where his heart ought to be.

On the rector's suggestion, Miss Burton's parents sent her to a high - class school to finish her education. Afterward:; a loving correspondence ensued between the rector and the girl. Then it cooled down, and finally the rector's solicitor wrote that Mr Barnacle "never promised to marry that girl." ,

Miss Burton gave evidence in support of the story. She told the incident of the lock of hair, and said that on one occasion Mr Barnacle asked one of her friends to be a bridesmaid. At the time he exchanged livings in 1898- he asked her to be his wife. He took a holiday in Norway, and wanted her parents to let her go too, but they refused. But she met him at

Peterborough on his return, and in a firstclass carriage going home he kissed her and asked her to run away with him, as runaway matches were always lucky.

They wrote love-letters instead, and until Christmas 1899 she expected him to make her his wife. She was now only sixteen. He never gave her a ring. In one letter he wrote:—"Miss you very much, darling-Emmy; am advertising for a groom, to drive you, in buttons." The letter concluded: "With all the love in the world for you and heaps of kisses."

In reply Emily signed herself "Your own Emily." She enclosed kisses, in crosses, and added:—"Don't show these to the housekeeper, or ask her what they are."

In cross-examination Miss Burton admitted that in February last year she wrote to him in the following1 terms:—

"I am very disappointed at not receiving a letter from you. Why did you not answer mother's letters? Mother said she had written to you while I was at Rushrien. What kind of Christmas have you had, and how many kisses? I have had a good many and enjoyed them. When are you going to London? I expect you don't want to take me. Ah, well, I can so some time with Mr Bury. I believe I like him as 'well as you. I know you do not care much for me as you do not write. If I do not get a letter by Saturday I shall not take any notice of your silly talk, and know that you do not mean anything and are only deceiving me. I shall go and talk to Mr Bury. He is always pleased to see me." Mabel Fountain, a pupil teacher, of Rushden, stated that to her Mr Barnacle said, referring to Miss Burton: "You must be a' bridesmaid." Ella Burton, the plaintiff's younger sister, was then called; but the jury at this point stopped the case, and gave Mr Barnacle a verdict.