STOPPING A WEDDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21882, 18 August 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

STOPPING A WEDDING

DRAMATIC CHURCH SCENE MARRIED MAN CHARGED .:. . i ALLEGED BIGAMOUS INTENT Evidence by "a wife regarding a dramatic tscene at tho local parish church, wheiia wedding was stopped by the police, was a feature of the resumed hearing at Mortlake, Surrey, of a charge against Bertie Hammond, aged 33, cinema operator. Hammond was charged with attempting to marry Lucy •Elizabeth-Smith, liis wife being still alive.

At the previous hearing Detectivesergeant Brunsden described how he Visited the church with Mrs. Hammond and saw tho vicar and Hammond. According to tho detective, when Hammond was told ho would bo arrested he admitted Mrs. Hammond was his wife, but stated ho believed sho had divorced him.

When the hearing was resumed, Mrs. Hammond, of Chiswick, stated that sho married the accused at Turnham Green on May 16, 1921, and lived with him until July 1932, when ho deserted her. There were throe children. The next time she saw him was when sho visited Mortlake parish church with a detective. She went into the vestry, and, later her husband was shown in.

The vicar showed Hammond the banns of marriage, form, and he replied that the particulars were correct. "Ho then looked straight at me," continued Mrs. Hammond, "and I said: 'You are my husband!' He replied: 'Who are you? I don't know you.' I said, ' I'm your wife,' and then left the vestry."

In a letter last Christmas, said witness Hammond, told her he had been

out of work and was sorry he could not send her any'Thoney. Since he left her she had received only about £2 10s. Hammond: Did we agree for a mutual separation the day I left you? v; Mrs. Hammond: No. . , •V, Two years ago did I not ask you to -divorce me, as life was intolerable? j Witness: You have several times asked me, but not two years ago. ; < The chairman of the Bench inquired what was Mrs. Hammond's reply to the (divorce request. She replied, ''l. had; -no evidence or money. I was destitute." , ; Hammond: Did I write and tell you I had met someone whom I cared for very, very much? Witness: Yes, and I wrote back and asked you if you would meet me and come to some amicable settlement, but I had no reply to my letter.

Hammond was committed for trial