GOSSIP FROM LONDON STAGELAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 16

GOSSIP FROM LONDON STAGELAND.

THE STAGE MANAGEB AND HIS WIFE. From Our Own Correspondent. London, December 1. Mr Henry Montague, or Winter, who was condemned last Thursday to a long term of penal servitude for corrupt perj ary, bore an excellent reputation amongst his men friends, and was a popular member of more than one theatrical club. He recently filled the post of stage manager at the Garrick Theatre, and when Mrs Harrison Davis produced her play “ A Life Policy," at Terry’s Theatre, it was he who (as you know) licked it into shape and generally superintended the production of the piece. Curiously enough this dramatic version of “ For So Little," deals with an Australian scamp, who, like Mr Montague himself, tried to get rid of his wife in order to procure money. Mrs Davis’ hero, however, had recourse to poison, whereas Winter (to give him his proper name) drew the line at perjury. But to both men their evil deeds “ like chickens came home to roost."

Winter’s fraud was committed as long ago as 1881, and he fondly hoped it had been forgotten by the English police. But detectives have good memories for faces, and one day going to the Garrick Theatre for some tickets, Inspector Frost recognised in the courteous smiling manager an individual he had “ wanted " for seven years. The situation at Winter’s London home in 1881 was a familiar one, on and off the stage. Still young, handsome, persuasive and a favourite with the sex, Winter found himself burdened by a passee, sickly and silly wife, who was in his way at every turn. If he could get rid of her even temporarily, he could marry a rich woman at once. But he blenched from the idea of bigamy, and no thought of injuring the poor lady ever entered bis mind. Well, the fellow thought and reflected and pondered and at last was delivered of an original idea. Mr Winter decided to divorce Mrs Winter without her knowing anything about it. And strange as it may sound he did so. The imaginary co-respondent was his own brother, whom he represented as having recently died, though he had roally retired to higher spheres ten years before. The evidence consisted of a confession signod by the peccant wife and' of letters from the erring brother. The pair had bolted to America, so of course the respondent could not be called. Mr Winter himself, however, went into the box and drew tears from the ladies in Court by his forlorn aspect and his sad story toid in broken tones. Decree nisi duly pronounced. Will it be believed that Mrs Winter was at this time living quietly in London, and actually received the notification of the decree nisi, but having promised Winter to forward 'unopened any documents which arrived in blue envelopes she never received it. The fraud (almost matchless in its audacity) proved entirely successful, and not till five years later (1886) did Mrs Winter accidentally discover that she had been divorced. Meanwhile Winter married a lady possessed of L 12,000, and till she died lived on the fat of the land in Paris. Shortly after the police arrested him there, but failed to secure his extradition and had the man remained abroad ho might have been at large now. In 1893, believing the lapse of years had made him safe, Winter re-visited London and drifted into the position where fate overtook him.

Judge Collins gave him six years’ penal servitude.