VERSES TO YOUNG GIRL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

VERSES TO YOUNG GIRL.

SAVAGE ATTACK FOLLOWS.

MARRIED MAN'S ENTANGLEMENT.

The storv of a married man's infatuation for a girl was told at the Old Bailey recently, and a song he had written in her honour was read, when Charles Beevor, an optician, was charged with wounding Marion Hutchings with intent to do her grievous bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty. Mr. Waldo Briggs. prosecuting, said the girl was about twenty years old, living with her parents. From the age of sixteen she had lived with Beevor, but left him about two months ago. She had become acquainted with a young man. and one night she, her brother, and her young man went to the theatre. When she got home Beevor was waiting there. Beevor and she hal a quarrel, and in the darkness he took out a razor and cut her seriously on the nose and hands. Beevor afterwards said he only wanted to cut her hair off to disfigure her. " I wish I had done myself in. I love her." Marion Hutchings. cross-examined, said she did not know that Beevor was veryfond of her. She was not fond of him ; she was afraid of him.

Mr. St. John McDonald : He has shown his love for you in many ways, and he has written a song about you. Do you remember these words?— Secluded gladeß and fragrant fields, My fondest joy of early years, Another charm more potent wields. And all my soul its sceptre bears Strange is the spell whose mystic wile Enchains my heart with every smile. Its bondage sweet chides every fear, Bids mo but love, bids me but love you, sweetheart dear. CHORUS Sweet M-,riari, s«?c*. Marion, 'Tis but your name in memory. 'Tis but one song, ore melody. E'en shall my dreams recall As nisht winds ™nmvr ~. Dear love, dear life, cay *11. Sweetheart, sweetheart. ©woe*. Marion. The jury and the witness laughed at Mr. McDonald's reading of the poem. At the end the girl said : " I don t call that love." (Laughter). Mr McDonald : I should like to give you the second verse, because I think the jury like it. (Laughter). A Juror : Oh, don't! Spare us! The witness admitted that Beevor had been good to her. On tha night she went to the theatre she had promised to meet him but did not do so. Beevor gave evidence. " You are still passionately fond of the girl? " asked Mr. McDonald. " Yes," he replied. The song he had written about her, he added, was in the hands of the publishers. Referring to the night in question, Beevor said : "I did not feel well, and we had words. On the impulse of the moment, I don't know why—the devil prompted me— 1 took the razor out of my pocket and attempted to cut off her hair. It seemed to be one of those moments when the devil tempts a man to do what he would not do otherwise. It was a misunderstanding." Afterwards he bathed her face with a piece of rag. " Then I took her in my arms and kissed her." With regard to her hair, he said the thought flashed through his mind because she was proud of her front hair, and used to say : " Don't touch my front hair or I shan t get off." He was a married man with children. He was jealous of the girl, and would have done anything to make her happy. On being found guilty Beevor said : For years I have tried to do an impossible thing I have tried to love this young woman and I have tried to keep my home. I have tried to please both women. I have tried to act honourably to both."