PERSECUTED BY A GIRL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15664, 18 July 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

PERSECUTED BY A GIRL.

MUSICIAN AND FORMER PUPIL.

"CRIPPEN THE SECOND."

A dramatic story of the persecution of a musician by a girl was told at the Yarmouth Police Court recently, when Miss Mabel Burrell, a prominent figure in the local musical circles, was summoned for threatening Mr. Richard Hunn, Mus. Bac, a music-teacher and master of the Norfolk Military Band, which plays on the Britannia Pier.

" Miss Burrell was formerly a pupil of Mr. Hunn," said the latter's solicitor. "Two years ago he became engaged to another girl. Miss Burrell soems to have formed an attachment for him, which was not reciprocated, and from that time she has done all she can to make life a hell for him.'

" When his engagement was announced she sent his fiancee, a letter making foul accusations against him, and on their return from their honeymoon she met and molested them in tho street. Since then she has sent Mr. Hunn every day a letter or postcard addressed ' Crippen the Second,' of so scurrilous a character that tho postmaster ultimately refused to deliver the :ards.

• " Then she took to throwing anonymous cards into his garden, or into a room if tho window was open. In all her letters she said sho was determined to have hoi" revenge, as he had ruined her life. In one foul and disgusting letter she said, ' I would lovo to knife you.' " Precautions had to be taken to watch her on the pier to prevent scenes. On one occasion Mrs. Hunn was so enraged that sho thrashed her with a dog-whip." Mr. Hunn said that Miss Burrell had dozens of times threatened to shoot or stab him, and ho was afraid of her. He indignantly denied that he had ever made love to her and promised her marriage, or that ho had acted improperly. Miss Burrell said that after the third music lesson Mr. Hunn, instead of giving her lessons, courted her. Later, sho asserted, he behaved improperly, and promised to marry her if she would keep it secret. "Before his marriage," she added, "I told his fiancee all that had taken place,, and becged her to give him up. My life has been ruined and made a misery." She admitted that she wroto the letters, but said she had no intention of carrying out her threat. Sho was bound over in £100, and one surety of £100, to keep the peace for 1? months.