A VICTIM OF BIGAMIST

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 January 1926, Page 2

A VICTIM OF BIGAMIST

FIRST "HUSBAND" EXECUTED.

To be, first, one of the dupes of a .murderer, and then, when she thought she had gained happiness, to .find that she was again, the victim of. a -bigamist, is the-sad< story of M'iss Ethel Frances Baker, of Hounslow. f • ; . t z : /Her first • “marriage” was with Arthur' Gosleft, who, was executed five years ago for the murder of his wife, at Golders Green. Her second “husband,” Thomas William Rudsdale, has , just been sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment at Falkirk. ■ . ■ Miss Baker was one of two women whom Rudsdale had- bigamously .-married. He wrote to her a letter of sympathy following the trial of Goslett at the Old Bailey in 1920. He offered her marriagfe; she went to Falkirk, and within three weeks of their first meeting they were “married.”

A month after the Old Bailey trial Miss Baker became a mother- She has since had a second child, Rudsdale being the father. . At the time of his arrest Rudsdale had just served a month in Durham Gaol for deserting his lawful .wif® family. It was pleaded on his behalf, when he appeared on the double charge- of bigamy at Falkirk, that he evidently /did not realise the sacredness of the marriage vow and that he could not see the position in which he had-placed himself. He -was in tears during the hearing of the case, arid declared; his intention of sticking to Miss Baker after his release. ’ ;

Rudsdale, a railway surfaceman of middle-age, was first married in 1897, and lived twenty years with his wife. They had nine children,., five of whom are still alive. He left his wife at Grangetown, North Yprkshire, in 1917, and two years later, iri August, 1919, he married a Motherwell widow, who had twin children by marriage. He left this woman in October, 1919, and met Miss Baker in September of the following year. For five years she was happy with him. Then came the crushing discovery that for the second time she was a bigamous wife. Miss Baker was employed as a saleswoman in a shop at Richmond, where she made the acquaintance of Arthur Goslett. He went through a marriage ceremony with her, some time ..before the mysterious disappearance of his legal wife. .This ceremony was conducted in January, 1920, at Hounslow Parish Church. Goslett, in the name of Godfrey, posed as a naval officer, and spent week-ends with Miss Baker, tilling her that on other occasions he was on duty. Then, when his wife’s body was recovered; the full story came cut. Miss Baker had to give evidence at the Old Bailey.

It was following Goslett’s execution for the murder of his wife that Rudsdale wrote to Miss Baker. His letter, signed Thomas Risdell, was sent from Grangemouth, and in it he expressed deep sympathy with her. The tone of the letter was such that a correspondence ensued, and later he offered her marriage. Within ten days Miss Baker went to Falkirk, and on meeting him she was so impressed that she , accepted his offer and they were married before the sheriff in Falkirk When he was in Durham Prison, serving' his month’s sentence for deserting his wife, Rudsdale wrote to Miss Baker, stating, “I am awfully sorry this happened. Cheer up ; it will soon pass away ; then I will come homo again. Kiss the kiddies for me, and I will make it up when we meet again. God bless you and keep you safe till I return. —Your broken-hearted husband, T. Wm- Risdell. •