THE AMAZING BIGAMIST.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 530, 25 March 1908, Page 3

THE AMAZING BIGAMIST.

-•> ARTHUR HYNE. A CAREER OF AVARICE AND DECEPTION. As was cabled at the timo, Arthur Hyne, arch-bigamist and imposter, was sentenced at Bristol on the 13th ult., to seven years' penal servitude. In its report of tho closing scenes in the case, the London Express says that Hyne, whose amazing record of feminine conquests so startled tho court, cut a most uugallant, not to say repulsive, figure. Here was no dashing squire of dames, handsome, alert, and resourceful, but a shockheaded, coarse-featured man half beside himself with fear. His dark, heavy face, unlit by any gleam of gallantry or high intelligence, is typically foreign. His flat, flabby chin and cheeks were black and unshaven, and gave him a sinister, animal appearance. He whined rather than spoke, aQ d never once held up his head or gave any sign of that spirit of mastery he was said to possess. From first to last he played the craven, and disappointed the women spectators, who had looked to see a very gallant and polished man of the world, with an irresistiole charm of manner. He sobbed quietly as he sat in the corner of the clock, and even tho sentence and the biting words of the judge did not strike a spark from him. "I have to tell your lordship a story of heartless crime extending over two years," said Sir Charles Mathews, opening tho case for the prosecution, in a low, unemotional voice. Sir Charles outlined at some length the long and involved story of Hyne's dealings with various women in different parts of the country. He told how Hyne, posing as " Dr. Westen," met the young New Cross girl Alice Bell when he was practising as a dentist in London. Thoy were married in Manchester, ' Hyne then describing himself as a bachelor. A boy was born to them, and later a girl, and both children are still living. ** In the early part of last year Hyno seemed to have migrated from London to Bristol, where he became a resident in the suburb of Redland. In July of last year, while he was a resident there, he became acquainted with a Mr Daek, who had a daughter, a .young and handsome widow, named Mrs Alethea Margaret- Stevens. Hyne began a courtship with Mrs Stevens, and was accepted by her as her husband. On August 21 he married her. at the Brislington Parish Church, describing himself to the woman and her father as a French Canadian and a "bachelor." He continued to live with Mrs Stevens until . November 28 of last year, when lie was arrested in Bristol. Tho charge on which he was then arrested was one of obtaining money by false pretences of marriage from a girl named Kate Amelia Matthews, who was living in Redland, close by his dental surgery. She saw an advertisement in the local paper for a wife, answered it, and met Hyne. He nromised her marriage, and borrowed various sums from her which sho herself had to borrow. When Hyne was arrested on this charge he was baile dout by Mr Dack, who imagined ho was his father-in-law. Hyne went to London with Mrs Stevens, the woman who believed herself to be his wife, and deserted her there in turn. He then went abroad, first to Paris through Belgium. He next went to Hull, and then to Aberdeen, where he remained until he was re-arrest-ed on a further charge of bigamy and obtaining money by false pretences. As Hyne did not appear at Bristol Police Court, Mr Daek lost the amount of his bail. Of the sum of £200, £164 was paid by Mr Dack, and the slim of £36 by Alioe Bell, Hyne's first wife. Sir Charles Mathews next told liow Hyne obtained £400 from Mr Dack by pretending that he had sold a secret marine invention to the Admiralty. " Tho arrangement I have with the Admiralty is so secret that I must not disclose it to a living soul," Hyne explained to Mr Dack. "I am precluded from holding any relation of any kind with any foreign Power, and I must not leave the shores of this country jintil January, 1908." "My statement will not bo complete," Sir Charles continued quietly, "unless I tell your lordship of an additional bigamous marriage that has come to light." Hyne sat bolt upright in the dock at this reference. "At Rathmines Parish Church, Dublin, in August, 1906," Sir Charles stated, "Hyne went through the ceremony of marriage with a woman whose name I need not mention. When that marriage was contracted the couple went to Birmingham, where they stayed for a few days. Here j the young woman received certain in. formation, and she very rightly left him. "Hyne had relations in Birmingham with another young girl, and in Bristol with a girl of sixteen. There is yet another case of a young servant girl, and in this case there was to have been a prosecution. "Under promise of marriage he next obtained the sum of £74 from and deceived a Miss Collins, of Bris- ' tol." At the close of Sir Charles Matthews' speech, Mr Percival Clarke rose for the defence, "This man," he said, "stands selfconfessed as a felon for the first time in his life, but it is of some importance to know that he has repented and is prepared to take his punishment. Mrs Stevens did not make the complaint which has led te this bigamy charge. She does not ask for a severe punishment for this man. "I sholl show you that Hyne has treated the two women, each of whom regarded herself as his wife, kindly and, well. This kindness Mrs Stevens repays by not making any complaint. "I think one of the most touching of the incidents in connection with the case is that when Hyne was ar r rested in Aberdeen his wife, Alice Bell, went to the authorities and said she desired to see him. An affecting interview between the husband and wife and two children was arranged. "That his own wire bears mm an affectionate regard must be apparent. Out of her slender resources she has paid £36 to Mr Dack to relieve him of the burden which his generosity to her husband has placed on him. ■ "I mention these things because heartless conduct has been alleged. It is odd that no wife has made any complaint. -.„,,. "The chief cause of Hyne's short career of crime,' 'he concluded, "was his desire to >geet money in order to build up for Tbimsel fa practice as a dental surgeon. I ask you to temper justice with mercy. The blow, although it will fall heavily on him, will fall much heavier upon his wife and children." The judge then passed sentence.