ECCENTRIC WIDOWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18950, 23 February 1925, Page 10

ECCENTRIC WIDOWER.

SOCIETY LADY'S ACTION. y BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. EXTRAORDINARY ADMISSIONS. "GODFATHER TO THE WORLD." ' V* v i-i : ' i By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Fab. 20. Amazing admissions were made today on behalf of the defendant in tho society action in -which Mrs. Lubbock, aged 3-3, grand-daughter of' tho Earl of Eglinton and Winton, is Mr. Frank Greswold Williams, aged 50, a wealthy Worcestershire widower, for breach of promise of marriage. Iri the course of his evidence tho defendant said he believed ho had proposed to Mrs. Lubbock, but he could not remember such things now. Mrs. Lubbock told him he had better cancel the engagement if it caused trouble with his family. Defendant admitted that his net yearly income was £IO,OOO, perhaps ■ £12,000. In reply to a question as to how many women he had proposed to, defendant ■ said: "I do not know. I should think hundreds. It was a form of insanity. I , asked a lot of them jokingly. It is easy ■ to say: 'Come, let us get married, shall we ?" It does not matter much so long as it is not put on paper, but I believe I proposed to Mrs. Lubbock seriously." Continuing, defendant said: "I cannot say how many I proposed marriage to before Mrs. Lubbock, because I have only been a widower for two months. I suppose I broke off the engagement. I never intended to encourage her further hopes." Defendant added that he took no drugs. His head and his eye were seriously injured by a gun accident in Africa. Captain Charles Leake, defendant's son-in-law, gave evidence to the effect that, at the end of 1023, defendant was incessantly drunk. He did not seem to " realise what he was doing. Witness, said he knew defendant proposed to 10 women. . To one, who was well-connected, he gave a cheque for £7OO. Ho also gave her carte blanche to purchase dresses. This woman promptly put the cheque into the fire. Defendant seemed to think he was. "godfather to the whole world." He wanted to make presents to people ranging from a Rolls Royce car to a knitted jumper.