ROMANTIC ELOPEMENT IN HIGH LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANTIC ELOPEMENT IN HIGH LIFE.

THE HEIR AND THE BARMAID.

"A romantic elopement has just oc« currad," says the; Birmingham Daily Post, "in connection with one of the oldest ariatocratic families in the kingdom. The chief aotor is a high spirited youth, whose age is given as not more than seventeen, and who is the only son and heir of one of the county families of East Worcestershire, and whose name occurß in Domesday Book. The father of the youth is a retired captain of Dragoons, and his mother is of a distinguished Scotch family, a member of whioh, for his services in the Indian Mutiny, was raised to the House of Peers. Three months ago the young heir was introduced, at the cloae of a boating excursion, by the private secretary of his father, to a barmaid, aged between twenty-one and twenty-two, at a wine and spirit vaults in Stourbridge, whom the secretary pronounced ' the prettiest girl in England.' It was an affair of ' love at first sight,' and the young fellow declared he would never marry anyone else. A friendship sprang up, and family entreaties and threats were alike in vain. The young man declared. that if his wishes were thwarted he would end his life with a revolver. At this time he was on a vacation from his college at Cirencester. The family communioated with the detective police of Birmingham, and for weeks past private detectives have watched the barmaid's movements almost night and day. She is the daughter of a poulterer living in Wolverhampton. Detectives, solicitors, and clergymen have also visited the girl's home, on behalf of the family, to try to obtain information of the heir's whereabouts, for it was discovered bo had run away from college. Very little information was, however, forthcoming, and though one interview was secured at the hotel between the young man and his mother, the only result was his declaration that if ho were taken by force he would be taken home on a stretcher. Authentic news was afterwards received that the couple had eloped, and had been married at, it ia believed, a country church near Liverpool. The bride has her« self communicated this information, and has asked for forgiveness. The young hair's family are, naturally, greatly oonoernod. The young fellow has, during the latter part of the proceedings, backed up his independence by putting forward 4 his solicitor' when he has been threatened by his family. An attempt to secura a special license only a few days before the successful elopement was frustrated by the registrar happening to possess private information of how the matter stood. In his second attempt, however, he seems to have been more fortunate. Some doubt at present exists whether the ceremony took place at a registrar's office or at a church. The elopement is being much discussed in hunting circles, the heir's family being accustomed frequently to figure at meets,"

A subsequent despatch states :—The young gentleman who was stated to have run away with and married a barmaid is reported to be Percival Reginald, the only son of Captain Foster, of Stourton Court, near Stourbridge, The family is very highly connected, and is one of the oldest in England. The young lady iB Miss Alice Dor* Devitt, a barmaid, who was engaged in vaults in the High-street, and is described aa being possessed of very considerable personal attractions. Her father is stated to be a greengrocer at Wolverhampton, She is between 23 and 24 years of age, and the young fellow is about 16 years old.

The following advertisements have been published in the local papers in connection with the affair "Foster—Devitt.—On the 26 th instant, at St. Mark's, Winahall, Derbyshire, by the Rev. G. Clarke, Percy Reginald, only son of Captain Foster, Stonrton Court, Stourbridge, to Alice Dora, youngest daughter of John F. Devitt, Wolverhampton." "Notice. — Captain Foster, of Stourton Court, near Stourbridge, hereby gives notioe that he will not be responsible for any debts his son, Peroival Reginald Foster, may contract."