AN AMAZING MARRIAGE MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN AMAZING MARRIAGE MYSTERY.

BLACKMAIL AND A THRASHING Tiiehe were some remarkable revelations at Brentford Bankruptcy Court- when Francis Crichtoa Temple, of Cassillis, St. Margarets-on-Thanies, was again examined by the official receiver. The gross liabilities were said to be £4124, and the deficiency £324 12s 2d, but it was pointed out that the debtor had omitted the petitioning creditor's claim, amounting to £3600, from his statement of affairs. Mr. Cecil Mercer, the official receiver, described the case as the most astounding one in his long experience. It appeared that the debtor was left £8000 under the will of Mr. Cassiai, a wealthy Italian, and".die aftercwards changed his name by. deed-poll to Francis Ernest Twemlow. He refused to disclose the name of his father. He had been engaged in speculations on the Stock' Exchange, and. had been the proprietor of a hotel in Oxfordshire, and a chemist. ■ ,7 The official receiver produced a certificate of ; marriage between Ernest . Crichton Twemlow and Margaret Hey wood, dated February 24, 1880. Handing it to the debtor he asked if lie was the person' named in that document, but this he denied. He would swear that he never married Margaret Heywood. She, however, held a bill of sale on his furniture. They were in partnership in the. Ormond Club, Walworth Road. This club was removed to Richmond, and there was a serioils fire, which did damage amounting to' £1000. ' ° I The Official Receiver: Was Mies Hey- I woccl living under your protection? Mr. Horace Condy, for the debtor, objected to this question, and Mr. Registrar Huston ruled that it should not he answered. The. Official Receiver: Were vou married on January 10, 1877, to Miss Annie Harris? The Debtor; I have .already sworn so. The Official Receiver: Were you a widower at the time?l was not. Mr. Condy: He has already said he was not a widower. The Official Receiver: This marriage certificate savs lie was. " Previously the debtor had .denied that he had ever been " hammered" on the Stock Exchange, and he further denied that in 1893 he failed to meet his engagements to. the amount of £10,000. less securities. He alleged that he was bein" blackmailed by two men, one of whom lie described as the biggest thief and blackguard in London. This man he provided with £600 to.go into a photographic business, and he commenced''printing indecent post-cards, using his own wife as a model. He had done everything he could to •get this man before the courts, even to "iviii" him a good thrashing in the public streets' He had letters in his possession revealing the whole disgraceful, story, and he had purchased, these from one* of his . black.mailers. After further evidence the case was again adjourned to sec if the mystery- of the marriage certificate could • be 'solved.