ROMANTIC LOVE STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANTIC LOVE STORY.

CHARGE AGAINST A NOTTINGHAM

ENGINEER. A curious story was told at Nottingham when Thomas Rodney Hatherly, 33, an engineer, of that town, was charged with making a declaration before a registrar of marriages, on giving notice of marriage with Miss Marion Walker, daughter of Colonel Herbert Walker, knowing it to be untrue. The prosecuting solicitor said he had to place before the magistrates certain facts which were of a very painful nature. Briefly, the facts were that defendant was introduced to Colonel Walker early during last year,, and early this year became engaged to his daughter, who was only 19 rears of age. The wedding was fixed, but before the date arrived certain facts came, to the ears of Colonel Walker, and he made some inquiries. Facts with relation to defendant came to his knowledge which were of such a nature that the marriage could not take place. At the wish of his daughter, however, Colonel Walker allowed defendant to go away to make himself a position, and it was arranged that when he had done so his daughter should go out to him. But further information was forthcoming which made a union between Colonel Walker's daughter and defendant impossible. On March 22, defendant, with the help of his friends, succeeded in taking Miss Walker away, and from that day to this she had been absent from her parental roof. On March 23 Mr. J. Keegan had a conversation with defendant, and the solicitor related what had taken place. Since then defendant had visited Southampton, Newhaven, Havre, and various other places, and in London he had been to a minister with a view to getting married to Miss Walker. In Nottingham, went on the prosecuting eefticitor, defendant had attended before Mr. Herbert Clarke, registrar for marriages for Nottingham, and informed him that he wished to bo married to Miss Marion Walker, and said she was of the age of 21, well knowing at the same time that she was only 19. Under a certain section of the Act to amend the provisions of the law relating to marriages and registration, which the solicitor quoted, any person making any false declaration or false document before a registrar renders himself liable to the same punishment us for perjury.

Mr. Herbert- Clarke, registrar of marriages for Nottingham, said he recognised defendant as the man who made the declaration when giving notice of marriage with Miss Walker on March 19 on the certificate produced stating the age of the latter to be 21. Defendant's solcitor said it was obvious that there must be a remand, and he had to ask for bail. Accused was the son of an old Nottingham citizen, and was fully prepared to meet the charge. The Deputy-Chief Constable (Mr. J. Keegan), at the request of the solicitor for the prosecution, said he had previously seen defendant, and told him that Mrs. Walker, the mother of the girl, was suffering from heart disease, and was very naturally distressed as to the whereabouts of her daughter. Defendant replied that he was sorry to hear that, and would try to get Miss Walker back to her mother as soon as possible if he was not shadowed by the police. Mr. Keegan told him that the police would not shadow him. He knew defendant had been to France, Southampton, London, Newhaven, and various other places. As far as bail was concerned Mr. Keegan said the police would have nothing to say in the matter. They would leave it entirely in the hands of the Bench.

The Bench, after a short discussion, said defendant would be remanded for a period not exceeding eight days. In the matter of bail, two sureties each of £250 would have to be found.