THE WORLD'S GREAT MARRIAGE ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10037, 25 January 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WORLD'S GREAT MARRIAGE ASSOCIATION.

MORE EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE. At Bow-streot, London, recently, before Mr. Lushington, Mortimer Daniel Skates, John Charles Skates, Norman Golding Hennah, John Abrams, and Anthony Maddown were charged on remand with having unlawfully conepirod with others not in custody during the years 1884 to 1895 to obtain various sums of money by fraud, and further with having, in pursuance of this conspiracy, obtained those sums. Before further evidence was called, Mr. Lushington aßkod Mr. Mattliows, who prosecuted for tho Treasury, whether it was alleged by the prosecution that money had boon obtained by tho prisoners by false pretences in certain specific cases, or whether it was that tho business was fraudulent throughout. Mr. Matthews replied that ho was afraid that ho could only speak at present with regard to the eases now to be brought out in evidenco. Mr. Lushington said that his reason for asking this question was that he had received letters upon letters from persons who had been connected with this agency, and who wore most

ANXIOUS THAT NAMES SHOULD NOT BE MENTIONED. Mr. Mattliows said that all he could ray At this time was that in numberless instances money had been obtained by fraud. Mr, Cock submitted that the defendants wero entitled to know what were the cases to be brought against them. They had carried on this business for a number of years, at first in their own names, and then as a limited company, and between 1890 and 1895 they had brought about 15,000 marriages. Mr. Matthews objected to his learned friend making a speech for the defence at this point. Mr. Cock repeated his request to bo informed whether the defendants were charged with fraud in certain cases or in the business on the whole. Mr. Matthews said that it would bo romembored that tho witnesses Sutton and Otto, at the time of their first joining the association, were supplied with tho names of three young ladies, in both cases of the same names, but of different descriptions. Now a third witness would be called who was put into communication with the same young ladies, but again the description varied, both as to their persons and their means. And, Mr. Matthews proceeded, as his learned friends were craving for information, he would say that the case for the prosecution was that where thess names were mentioned, and where thecorrespondenco wasconducted through the officethrough "Negotiator" — the proceedings wore fraudulent, and

THESE LADIES HAD NO EXISTENCE. Proceeding to other cases, he would show that in the next cases to be brought forward thero had been, must have been fraud —palpable fraud. Upon Mr. Cock asking for namos Mr. Matthews said there was no greater power in the hands of the defence than that of tho constant pressing for names. The greatest difficulty that attended this prosecution was in getting evidence. Many persons, though they admitted that they had been made the dupes of the association, yet would nob go into the witness box to be made the butt of his learned friends. Therefore, until the witnesses wore called ha would nob disclose their names. Mr. Lushington said that some of the correspondence lie had received had been from persons who had been married through the agency of this association. Mr. Matthews, continuing, said that the fourth case would be that of a man who in June, 1894, was induced to pare with five guineas in order to become an associate. Then there were what lie might now call tho familiar proceedings by which he was invited to become a member of

THE HIGH CUSS MAIUUAGE DEPARTMENT. For this 30 guineas was asked, but a " very special offer" was made, by which, considering the circumstances of his case, this sum was reduced to 27 guineas, The special circumstances were that more could not be obtained from him. He was put into communication, through the "Negotiator," with a Miss Alice May, and it was a peculiar fact that both the letters that " Negotiator" wrote on behalf of Mies May and the letters that Miss May wrote herself were in the same handwriting. In the fifth case another man who had become in this year an associate, and then a member of the High Class Marriage Department, was put into communication with a Miss Nellie Millie, through "Negotiator, 1 ' and it was again to be noticed that the handwriting of Miss Millie was identical with that of Miss May and with that of " Negotiator." Further, after writing three or four letters to applicants, both these young ladies were compelled to close the correspondence as they had to leave the country through ill-health,

A well-to-do workikgman. Mr. George Bason, of 31, Ash-street, Northampton, was then called. In June, 1895, ho saw an advertisement, and wrote to 103, Now Oxford-street. He received a copy of tlio Herald and a form, which he filled up, describing himself as a "well-to-do workingman, having worked in machine and shoe factories." Then he became an associate, paying £2 Pis Gd for this, and received the name of Miss Burford (£4OO per annum), Miss French (£250 per annum), "and Miss Millward (£2OOO capital). (These were the same names as those given to the two previous witnesses.) He wrote to Miss Burford, and received a reply. Then he received a letter from the association, telling him of the after-marriage subscription of £10, and 2J percent, commission on the lady's income. A " very special offer" was made to him to enrol him as a "freo associate" on payment of £8. To this he replied by asking for outside references as to the bone. fidts of the association. He received a letter Baying that this was a very unusual thing to ask for, but giving him the name of Mr. R. Davies, a solicitor, of

Chancery Lane. Then ha sent a cheque for £8, *nd received some further ladies' names, but no more letters from Miss Burford. As he had received no answer from Miss Burford he did not write to them. WITNESS PAINTS UNDER CROSS-EXAMINA-TION. The witness was then cross-examined by Mr. Cohen, but fainted, and had to be conveyed out of court. On his return Mr. Cohen questioned him on the subject of the ladies' names. He was aware, he said, that ladies were expected to adopt a nom dt plume, and he therefore could not expect that ladies would correspond with him in their own names in the first instance. This, said Mr. Cock, was the defendants'reply to tho statements made by the prosecution with rospect to names such as Missßurford. Mies Burford" might be fair, and with £300 a year nt one time, and be dark, and with £400 at another. Ro-oxamined by Mr. Matthews, witness said he wrote the following to the association " Dear Sir, —I was surprised to find that you had an institution of such magnitude, and wish it every success. I have read your communication over and over again. Hence my delay in replying. I have one pretty little girl four years of age. I sorely miss a loving helpmate, and am very anxious to obtain one. 1 want a handsome young widow without a family. She must have an independency in hor own right. I am extremely loving and affectionate. I feel I could never do enough for her. I should idolise her. I know that some ladies don't like too mutch (sic) love; but ladies must expect plenty of that from me as that is my nature. I should like the lady to be the same, and that she would appreciate the love shown to her. In fact,

SHE MOST BE ALL LOVE, and that will be my feeling to her. I esteem that more than riches. Let it be understood that 1 would never marry any lady for lier money, even if aho wore worth a million, without love, because I could not bo happy with her money and not her love. I have been abroad, ami would not object to a residence in the West Indies, where there is no winter, if the lady desired to go and stay thero. I am of quite steady habits, and never mix in the society of my own sex. I am quite domesticated, and of Christian principles. This photograph has not been taken years back, but in January, 1895.— remain, yours faithfully, O.B."

TOBACCONIST BUITOR WITH A SPLENDID r-i , IIKAD. - Alfred Jordan, of 41, King William-street, . tobacconist, stated that in 1893 he paid £5 '£'5s to tliD association, and received the names of three ladies. One was represented as having £450 a year, and £2000 at command, '••He wrote to all three through the "Lady

Negotiator," He was subsequently informed that one of the young Indies had gone abroad, and that she had been told it would be unwise for her to marry for some time. Afterwards witness' circumstances having improved, ho so informed the association, and received a reply stating that! subscription as an associate of higholass department would give him the advantage of a special negotiating staff. The London season was about to commence, and the association wanted to score a success. Then lip received a letter on gilt-edged paper, stating that the association liad agreed to admit him to the high-class department on the receipt of £17 17s, the usual fee being £32 10', lie filled up another form, in which he described himself as Church of England, and of a retiring disposition. He valued his tobacconist and hairdressing business at £2000, and gave his yearly income at £400. The lady must be able to swim, have about £200 a year, but this wan followed by, in brackets: "1 am not particular." But if money was not so great a consideration the lady had to take an Interest in sociology, and be a fair draught, ohoss, and billiard player, Three photos woro sent him to select from, all attractive-looking. Ho next) received a letter respecting a lady who was supposod to have £730 a year, and a oaplfc.il of £3000. Witness wrote saying ho hoped that this young lady would not be orderod abroad by her physician, like another young lady with whom he had been in communication. He received a letter from the association stating that there was no fear of anything of that kind happening. He sent the £17 17s, believing that this young lady existed. At her request, ho sent her his photograph, and she wrote back to say that he appeared to have a splendid hoad, and that, no doubt, accounted for his siicoess in business. Eventually Miss May wrote to say she was going to St. Malo, and he never heard from her again. Ho continued to receive letters on behalf of the association down to June last. He paid altogether to the association £'22, and got answers from about 20, out of 49. Ouo of tho 30 died, and ho received an " In Memoriara" card, (Laughter,) At this point the hearing was adjourned for a fortnight. Mr. Lushington said that, undor the circumstances, lie would accept the roducod bail of two sureties in £150 for Mortimer and Harrington, and two in £100 each for the rest.