EXTRAORDINARY MARRIAGE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6572, 9 December 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY MARRIAGE CASE.

SINGULAR SCENE IX A CHURCH. Mr. E. Kvowles Bis-s-s, solicitor, of Sheffield, who has for some years back taken a rather prominent part in lccal affairs, was married by Cation Blakeuey, at the parish church, on Wednesday, October 11, under circumstances which have caused extraordinary excitement. Several months ago a widow, forty yenrs of age, Mrs. Ada Caroline Milne, advertised in the Matrimonial News that she was ready to enter the '" holy state." The advertisement seems to have attracted the attention of Mr. Kuowles Bions, a bachelor of some thirty-fivo summers. In addition to other attractions, it appears that the lady was possessed of a fortune ef some £18,000, and soon after Mr. Binns made her acquaintance she agreed to transfer to him this fortuue, along with her hand. Preparations for the marriage were being made when the lady's brother appeared ou the scene, and declared that his sister was not responsible for her actions, and, in confirmation of his views, urged the fact that she had been detained lor a time in an asylum. Other arguments were used by the brother, and Mr. Biuns, who had been at Tuubridge Wells with Mrs. Milne, returned to Shefiield, the engagement being believed to be broken otl'. Mr. Binns afterwards wrote to the lady, who meanwhile had been placed in a convent, to ask "some explanation why your brother had thought lit to insult me in the way he did ;" but the brother opened the letter, and returued a contemptuous reply. Love, however, laughs at locksmiths, and can even defy the walls of a convent. Mis. Milne was in charge of a lady superior at Folkestone, but she communicated to that lady that she had nx?t with a gentleman whom she was about to marry, and. saying "Good-bye." came to Shetlit-ld a few days ago under the name of Mrs. Scott, of New York. Every eOort lias been made since that time by Mr. Binns and the lady to procure tlio needful authority to get married. The Konian Catholic chief clergy man, Canon Walshaw, had .it one time uuiicrtakcii to perform tho ceremony, aud the Bishop of Leeds had given a "dispensation." But. under pressure from tiie lady's relatives, both were induced to withdraw. Thus foiled, Mr. Binns waited upon the Kev. Canon Blnkuney last Saturday, explaining that he was about to marry a Catholic lady, and asking him to perform the ceremony. At this time Canon Blakeney was not aware of there being anything unusual. On Tuesday night, however, he was waited upon by two gentlemen from the otliceof a local solicitor, who stated that Canon Walshaw had refused to marry Mr. Binns to the lady in consequence of her having been confined in a lunatic asylum. As Mr. Binns was to call for the marriage licence on Wednesday morning, they asked Canon Blakeney to endeavour to induce Mr. Binns to make a settlement upon the lady, and when Mr. Binns called at the vicarage for the licence Canon Blakeney asked him to make I a settlement. This Mr. Binns refused to do. He said he would not be coerced by any one, and that, in consequence of the rough treatment which he h.id received at the hands of her brother, nothing should induce him to make a .settlement. Jle added that he would act properly by the lady and her property. On the question of the lady's sanity, Mr. Binus produced three medical certificates. One of these was from Mr. W. Favell. the other from Mr. Arthur Jackson, aud the third from Dr. Spowart, and each certificate agreed in stating that the lady was sane. Canon Blakeney had thus no choice but to grant the licence. The information that his sister was in Sheffield with the intention of getting married reached Mr. Liebert, her brother, by an anonymous letter. That gentleman came forthwith to Shellield, aud exerted all his powers to stop the proceedings. lie was fully informed of the fact that the ceremony was tixed for Wednesday morning, and by lime o'clock a number of muscular men, nut usually spectators at marriage ceremonies, were stationed in the neighbourhood of the parish church. The police, however, were on the alert in case of any attempt at a rescue. A little before ten o'clock Mrs. Milne's cab drove up, and the lady stepped out, leaning on the arm of Dr. Spowart, who was in morning costume. The bride wore a dark dress, over which was a very tine sedskin jacket, reaching nearly to her feet. The lady—who may be most appropriately described as "fair, fat, and forty" —also wore a tasteful hat with black ostrich feathers. Her brother, Mr. Liebert, rushed forward exactly as she stepped from the cab, and took his sister's arm, entreating her to come away. Dr. Spowart, who is a tall, muscular gentleman, protected the bride, and the police immediately drew the brother out of the way. The party then entered the parish church. Mr. Binns and Mrs. Milne placed themselues in the front of the communion rails, Dr. Spowart, who officiated as best man, being immediately in their rear. Close behind were Mr. Liebert, the lady's brother, and Mr. Simpson, her solicitor. When the Kev. Canon Blakeney had proceeded with the service as far as the usual passage, " If any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together," Mr. Liebert, stepping to the rails, said in a low tone of voice, " 1 do, sir." Canon Blakeney—What is the just cause? Mr. Liebert then made a statement in somewhat inaudible tones, which was understood to be that his sister was sullering from serious mental ailment, which ought to prevent her marriage. Canon Blakeney—Have you got medical testimony to the effect? Mr. Liebert—No, sir. I have not had time to get medical testimony. I have had no time to do anything. Canon Blakeney—But the gentleman she is about to marry has secured certificates from three of the most eminent medical men in Sheffield, that she is in a lit aud sound mind. Mr. Liebert—But he baa not got certificates about that other matter, has he ? Canon Blakeney —I don't know. They made an examination of this kind, and he certainly has in his possession certificates to the ellect I have just mentioned. lam afraid your objection, presented without sutlicient authority, is invalid. You see. 1 am bound, according to law, to proceed with the marriage, unless you can produce some just cause against it. Mr. Liebert—This is a most serious thing, sir. She is my sister, and lam anxious to save her. If I had time— if Mr. liiuns will consent to time being given me—.lean produce everything needful. In that ease, if it should be insullicient, everything can go on properly, and I shall have no objection to urge. Mr. Binns has been doing everything in an underhand way, and this is my only chance of saving her. lam her • brother. Canon Blakeney—lt places me in a very awkward position. Mr Liebert—l may add, sir, that Canon Walshaw refused to perform the ceremony, and the Bishop of Leeds would not give his sanction. \\ hen the facts were stated to him . Canon Blakeney—Canon Walshaw's position and mine are quite dillerent. ile has the power of refusing. I have no option, if the law is complied with. Mr. Liebert—l know your positions are dillerent, sir. Mr. Binns has refused everything. He has refused to make a marriage settlement on my sister. Mr. Binns, at this period, broke in rather roughly, without even looking round at Mr. Liebert —l am not going to discuss that question here with you. I ask you, canon, to proceed with the ceremony. Canon Blakeney—You insist upon it? Mr. Binns Yes, I do. The bride (in a clear, firm voice) —And so do I. Mr. Binns (producing the medical certificate)— And the lady herself says so. Canon Blakeney—These are the c.-rtiiieites, I suppose? Air. Biuns—They

mo. Mr. Licbci t—Hut they are only concerning the lunacy. Mr. Binns has got letters from me, anil In: knows my sisters stale of health. But lie has acted iu an underhand manner, and I have had no time to get certificates. It was only . Mr. Biuns (sharply)— There is no" underhand work whatever. Mr. l.iebert—There is. You know there is. My sister has been stopping at an hotel under the name of Mrs. ."Scott, of Now York, so as to keep it from me. Mr. Ui 11113—Because you have tried to prevent her marrying me. Turning to Canon Blakcney—l ask you, canon, to proceed with the service. Mr. Liebert—As soon as I hoard she was hero, I came straight to Sliullield. I have taken the best advice iu tliis town, and have tiled a petition to save my sister from thia fearful marriage. That is all I can lay before you now, sir. If you cannot help me, of course you cannot. Cauou Blakeney at this stage beckoned Mr. Simpson to him, and for a few moments the two consulted together. The canon asked Mr. Simpson if he could produce any medical _ certificate, or if he could give him any valid reason why the marriage should not be proceeded with. Mr. Simpson replied that he could not. Whilst this brief consultation was going on, Mrs. Milne left Mr. Binns's side, and, evidently impatient at the delay, went up to Canon Blakeney, saying—I want

no settlement whatever, I want to be married. Canon Blakeney, in returning to his place in front of the bridal pair, said—Mr. Binns, do you insist on this ceremony proceeding? Mr. Binns (firmly)—l do. Canon Blakeney (to Mrs. Milne) —Do you insist? Mrs. Milne—Yes. Ginon Blakeney — You both insist? (They indicated adherence to their resolution.) Then I shall be obliged to proceed. Mr. Liebert (again interposing) —It I had only time, sir, I co'uld . .Mr. Biuns (loudly) —You have had plenty of time, Mi. Liebert. (To Canon Blakeney) —Go on with thu service. Mr. Liebert.—l have not had time. If 1 had, I could easily prove that my sister is not in a fit state of mind to be married. Canon Blakeney—But, you see, you are unfortunately not in a position to prov2 that. Mr. Binns—That is simply a statement of yours. Canon Blakeney (to Mr. Lietert) —If I had evidence as to that fact, it would he material. Bat yon have no evidence with you. Mr. Liebert—l have here a letter from my wife, in which she says that a medical gentleman at Tuubridge \\ ells says she ought to he locked up and detained, as she is not fit to be at large. Mr. Binus (again interrupting)— That 'is quite satisfactory. (To the canon)— That is what they want to do. Canon Blakeney—You see, Mr. Binns has secured medical testimony. Mr. Liebert—That is only as to her state of mind—not as regards everything. Mr. Liebert, seeing he could do nothing further, stepped back, and Canon Blakeney proceeded with the ceremony. His decision appeared to otl'eud Mr. Liebert greatly. He turned his back upon the pair at the altar, and, leaning his head on one of the choirstalls, gave way to a fit ot sobbing. Mr. Binns began life as clerk to Mr. SiiL'g, the Shetlield solicitor, who acted as legal adviser to the trades unionists during the Broadhead trial. Tiie lady now made Mrs. Knowles Binns is a tall, tine woman, and of graceful speech and presence. She was very cool during the ceremonj . The couple took tickets for Manchester, but it is believed they only did so by way of securing a quieter visit to London.