A Lady and her Lovers.

Hastings Standard, Issue 167, 10 November 1896, Page 4

A Lady and her Lovers.

STRANGE AFFAIR AT CHELSEA,

An extraordinary story was told to Mr de Rutzen at the" Westminster Police Court, when Gustave Rothe (Sfi), a well-dressed German, describing himself as a coffee planter, of 14 Ebury Street, South lSelgravia, was placed in the dock charged with assaulting Dr. Charles Limiley, formerly of the Royal Navy. l>r. Lumley, who had a very bad black eye and" a swollen face, said he was in practice at King's Road, Chelsea. About midday he was asked by Mr Forbes, a friend, to accompany him to 1 1 Ebury Street, where he was given to understand a young lady to whom Forbes had been engaged for some two years had been taken by the prisoner after a four days' acquaintance. Prosecutor also understood that the prisoner was desirous of taking the lady (jut to Costa Rica. "\\ hen they reached the house a heated conversation ensued, in the course of which he was knocked down, and in the un'lrr Forbes left the house with the lady. Prisoner rushed out after them, and a further squabble ensued, prosecutor being felled by a blow in the eye. The doctor added that he was entering a civil action, when a'l the facts would come out, but in the meantime he wanted prisoner bound over. Questioned by the Magistrate, prosecutor said he "lost his temper and called the prisoner a liar. Mr de Rutzen - -There seems to have been a difficulty between two gentlemen about a lady. What brought you to the house ? Prosecutor The father or the brother of the lady in question is in a | lunatic asylum or something of the I kind, and she had only known the prisoner four days. She had been engaged to Lord Forbes' son two venrs. but on meeting the prisoner at a boarding-house she allowed him tojtake her in a cab from Waterloo to his house. Mr Forbes had her watched by a (tf'tective, and he took me to the house to certify. Mr de Rutzen -lie took you with a view to certifying as to the sanity of the lady ? Prosecutor—Yes. Forbes thought something was wrong when the lady so rapidly developed an attachment for a stranger.

Mr (ie Rutzen— I don't want to question you for the purpose of unravelling a story, but what made you call tlif prisoner a liar '? l)r Lumley—He said lie was possessed of very large, estates in Costa Rica, a"nd Mr Forbes has spent .£IN in investigating his stories. I called prisoner a liar because he has proved himself one on many occasions. P.C. 11l ]'> deposed to being attracted to Ebury-street by a crowd, and to seeing the prisoner knock Dr Lumley down by a blow in the face. Mr de Rut/.on asked the. prosecutor whether, Considering the great provocation he had given, he, would consent to bo hound over with the defendant. Dr Lumley could not accept this suggestion. It might result, he said, in his name being struck off the roll. Mr tie Rut/.en —Perhaps some remarks I may have to make will be equally unpleasant. Dr Lumley—You may do what you phase, sir. The Magistrate That is quite enough. The prisoner asked to be allowed to call the lady referred to, and a very tall, fashionably-attired young person stepped forward. She stated that she had been divorced from her husband according to American law, and her name was now Mabel Gurr. £She was at the house when Mr Forbes and Dr Lumley called, and was carried out of the house by the former. The prisoner rushed out after her, and during the talking he was provoked by the doctor, whom he then knocked down. Ry the Magistrate—Mr Forbes was a friend, and had been engaged to her. Mr de Rutzen—And then this man (prisonerj stepped in the way '? Witness—l became acquainted with him. Further questioned, the witness said she did not know why Dr Lumley called at the house. Mr de Rutzen (to prisoner) —That there is a great deal in this case that has not come out there can be no question, and I am not inclined to question this lady for the purpose of finding out the real facts. The only thing before me is a charge of assault, and it is perfectly clear an assault was committed, but under great provocation. Dr. Lumley has admitted losing his temper and calling you a liar, and when people make use of this expression when they know they will not be touched it is a most cowardly insult ; if a man is knocked down I don't think he can be much surprised. You will be bound over in £-' jo to be of good behavior for three months. Miss Chirr left the witness-box regretting that reporters were present, and Mr Forbes who had been an interested listener, .was anxious to have a private interview with the magistrate.