WIDOW SWINDLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23115, 13 August 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

WIDOW SWINDLED

IMPUDENT BIGAMIST LETTER READ IN COURT "INSULT ADDED TO INJURY" A .LETTER which the judge described as "the most impudent he had ever come across," was lead at Sussex Assizes at Lewes, when Hugh Charles Morrison, aged 40, a surveyor, was sentenced for bigamy and false pretences. Mr. Eric Neve, prosecuting, said that Florence lde, a 53-yoar-okl widow, who 'kept a shop at Ynpton, Sussex, wrote to a matrimonial agency and Morrison wont to see her. She made financial arrangements to Morrison's benefit and then wont through a ceremony of marriage with him. They went back to Yapton that night, but Morrison left the next day, saying that he would telegraph her. She was astonished to receive a letter from him which said:— "Loved Daughter" My Denr Flo, —I hiirdly know how to start this lettor to you, because I know it is going to hurt, anil X would do anything in the world to savo you any puin. . . . During my stay at Yapton, I have fallen violently in love with Oiivo (Mrs. Ido s daughter). When it took place first I really don't know, and, my dear, I don't want you to blame the dear girl, because she does not know anything about it. Piea.so do not tell hor. It is a calamity, ami, my dear, we cannot let it stand between us, though I cannot be aIJ I should be to yon. I am staying in London a few days until I got over the first shock, and then I will come down for you, and we must clear out of Yapton at once, becauso I cannot bear to meet Olive again. . . . I shall look after you and do everything to make you as happy as you deserve to be. Please forgivo me, and please believe me when I say it has been as big a shock to me as it must be to you. I shall write you again to-morrow; until then, I shall always remain, yours over, Hugh. Mr. Neve said there was a number of little crosses at the end. Grossly Insulted Her - Morrison pleaded guilty to obtaining £3OO from Mrs. lde by false pretences. Mr. Justice Humphreys directing that if there was an appeal and the Court of Appeal found that ho had misdirected the jury, it would bo understood that the plea of guilty on tho second count would not stand. Sentencing Morrison to 15 months' hard labour on each charge, the centences to .run concurrently, the judgo said that lie had 110 doubt Morrison married Florence lde to obtain her money. - "That letter which you wrote was, I think, the most impudent thing 1 have ever come across," he added. "You not only swindled the unfortunate woman, hut then grossly insulted her when you got her money hv pretending you were in love with her married daughter. In fact you had gone back to live with the woman you had previously married."