"AN OLD FRIEND."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 105, 2 May 1908, Page 15 (Supplement)

"AN OLD FRIEND."

NEWLY-MARRIED WOMAN'S DIFFICULTIES. LONDON, March 20A remarkable story was told by Mrs. Eliza Ellen Handcock at Bow-street Police Court the other day, when Mr. John Peter Robinson, of Gower-place, S.W., was com- ; mitted for trial on a charge of maliciously publishing a defamatory libel of her. Mr. Harry Wilson, who appeared to support the summons, said the case was as bad a one as he had ever heard of. in November, -10C6, Mrs. Handcock was about to ninrry her present husband, and as soon as the defendant became aware of the fact he wrote some most libellous letters, which -jVere also obscene and -Improper In every sense. The complainant was married, and she and her he .band left soon after for New Zealand. It was thought better at the time not to take any proceedings in the hope that during their absence abroad the defendant would see the folly of what he had done. After the complainant returned, however, a letter signed "Robinson" was received by her landlady, in which -it was stated, among I other things:—"She Is not all she represents ' herself to be. . . . False declaration of age on the marriage certificate. Liable to imprisonment there. If this woman lodges with you, and I know she does, take advice and say to her, 'tramp on.' " Enclosed In the letter were certified copies of the woman's birth and marriage certificates. Mrs. Handcock, cross-examined, said she had known the defendant for thirteen years, and had been on very friendly terms witn him. I think he has been most generous to you? —Very. You now know that he' 1s passionately fond of you?—lt Is a strange way of showing it My husband wanted to have him arrested, but I persuaded him not to do so, as he had been very kind to mc. Peter (the defendant) said he would settle an annuity upon mc. I went to a solicitor's office with him, ahd when we came downstairs he produced a revolver, and said be would have shot mc if I had not come to his terms. He added: "To show that I am sincere, I will give you a cheque for £500 if you will leave this man." As a matter of fact, he gave mc a cheque for £500. but two days afterwards he stopped payment of it, and I did not have the money. My husband is a ship's surgeon, and I went to New Zealand with him. When I came back to England I thought it had all blown over. The defendant was allowed ball in two sureties of £100 each.