NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1925, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

ELOPEMENT OF A GIRL OF 17 EX-PRIEST CHARGED.

LONDON, Oct. 18. The elopement of a colonel’s 17-years-olcl daughter was described at ’Winchester i'olieo Court yesterday, when Francis Ferdinand Friend, 35, formerly a Roman Catholic priest and now described as a salesman living at Cowes, Isle of ’Wight, was charged with making a false declaration to procure marriage with Cynthia Longhurst. air Peevor (for the Director of Public Prosecutions) said Friend made the alleged false declaration at the registrar's office, Winchester, lie said Miss Longhurst was 22, whereas she was only 17. Mr McSweeney, registrar at M inchester, said that, judging from the appearance of Miss Longhurst, there was nothing to arouse his suspicions that she was not 21. Lieul-Colonel Dell Willmot Longhurst, of the R.A.M.C., stationed at Trowbridge, told how Friend had been on visiting terms at his house at Rath for two years. Friend was well acquainted with his daughter, who had only recently put her hair up. Oil July 30 Ids daughter suddenly disappeared and the next day ho leccivcd a. telegram, lie and his wile went to Winchester, where they found the couple at the George Hotel. Me asked Friend if he knew he was guilty of abduction, lie replied that he was not. He said 1m had married Mis-. Longhurst and confessed h.o had given the wrong ago. Mr Cecil Wakes (defending) : Your daughter is a. very well-educated girl)' —I should say not. Is she old for her age •'—ln some respects she is a. mere child, hut when dressed up looks over her age. She is a tall girl. Did Friend apologise?—Not to me. Didn’t von become more friendly as the conversation went on P—l concealed my feelings for the sake cl my wife and daughter. Did you say that, in a certain event you would consent to the marriage.* 'i did. Did you shake hands nf the door ol rile. George Hotel P—l shook hands because my wife wished me to and nndei

protest. Colonel 1 .ongh.urst added that lie heard Friend had said he was led into taking the step through misunderstanding on the part of someone else. Hie couple were still on affectionate terms, hut his daughter now lived with him (The father) under an arrangement. Mr Oakes: They are anxious to live together again P—Yes. Can I ask a question. Is the marriage legal ? Mr IVevor: That has mulling to do with us here. Colonel Longhurst said he did not

recognise his daughter as Friend’s wife. Friend was scut for trial at the assizes, bail luring allowed. ANTI DAZZLE LAMPS. LONDON, October I. Tiie Ministry of Transport lias every hope that time will he found when Parliament meets next month for the reintroduction of the Rights on \ chicles Rill, which deals with the problem of dazzle Headlights. The Rill is based on the reeommeii I at inns of an expert committee and it-: principal clause provides lor the, 1 " Limitation of the height of the beams of headlamps so that they fall below the line of vision of pedestrians and the drivers of approaching vehicles.- ’ Already a hig step towards the parrying out of this proposal has boon made by the motor industry without the demand of an Act of Parliament, for no fewer than 50,000 motor-cars now being made are fitted with lamps that throw the beam of light on to the roadway without permitting it to appear above the line of vision.

A member of the Automobile Association told a reporter yesterday that hundreds of tests had been carried out jn regard to anti-dazzle lights, and the best advice yet found was the dipping of the light. The dipping lamp device is in use on all the motor-cars used by the Royal Family and the Metropolitan Polite, and it has been adopted as standard on the Rolls Rovce, Morris-Oxford, Daimler itnd other cars.