THE WORLD’S GREAT MARRIAGE ASSOCIATION IN COURT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 9

THE WORLD’S GREAT MARRIAGE ASSOCIATION IN COURT.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, March G.

The “ World’s Great Marriage Association” case came oti for trial at the Old Bailey on Friday last, when the five defendants —John Skates, Abrahams, Mortimer Skates, Honnah and Maddows were called upon to answer the charge of obtaining money by false pretences from thirteen forlorn males. The W.G.M.A. must have been a profitable concern whilst it existed, for the defendants were represented by Sir Frank Lode wood, Mr Candy, Q.C., and six other counsel. To those were opposed Mr Charles Mathews, Mr Horace Avpry and Mr Gill. The former opened the prosecution by detailing the history of the W.G.M.A., and then told the story of the attempt of a Mr Alfred Jordan to woo and win a wife with the Association’s aid. Jordan’s principal business is that of dispensing tobacco and cigarettes, Ac., at Brighton, but ho also claims to be champion draughts player of England. . Mr Jordan told tho Association that ho wished tho lady with whom he was to correspond to be a member of tho Church of England and interested in games of skili. Mr Jordan had a variety of names furnished him, and lie wrote to them all. After some correspondence through the medium of a negotiator, ho received this note as to one lady—

Miss Marriot, acting on the advice of her medical adviser, is shortly going abroad bean indefinite period. She is therefore sorry she cannot enter into negotiations.

Mortimer was “deeply disappointed at Mr Jordan’s lack of success,” and promised to “recommend his caso to the management,” with a view of having his name placed before their “ Fashionable and High-class Marriage Department.” For this privilege Mr Jordan was asked to pay a reduced subscription of £l7, and be was promised an introduction to a lady who was described as “ having a wealth of dark brown hair,” “ fond of home, and domesticated,” “ musical, and a most pleasing vocalist,” “fond of games of skill, and a good whist and chess player,” “22 years of age, and liked by everyone lor her kindly and sympathetic ways.” Nothing came of tho “promotion,” and Jordan is still a bachelor and tho poorer by £23 odd by reason of his appeal to tho W.G.M.A. Tho fun began with Sir Frank’s crossexamination of the draughts player.

Sir Frank wished to know as a preliminary when tho young man’s fancy first turned to thoughts of matrimony. Jordan wasn’t sure upon this point, so counsel asked him if he could say when ho decided to “really go in for it.” Alfred fixed the time as being when ho was “about 22.” Followed this dialogue:—■ Sir Frank: “ You are fond of games of chance!”

Jordan: “Of skill” Sir Frank: “Didn’t you think this was a game of chance ?” Jordon : “ it seems it was a gamo of no chance.” (At which smart retort tho Court guffawed.) How many addresses were sent to you ? —Fifty-two. How many did you write to? —To all of thorn.

When you were writing to Alice May you were writing to other ladies? —A es. Sir Frank .- That was not fair to Alice May ? Witness: She took some time to reply.

Mr Jordan’s description of tho lady he desired to moot contained many qualifications. She must bo a good swimmer, be able to seo without artificial aid, and have a variety of other somewhat odd attractions.

Where,” asked Sir Frank in dismay, “ did you expect such a lady to be found ?”

Witness had to confess that he did not know.

Sir Frank read a number of letters written by ladies with whom Mr Jordan had been placed in correspondence. “ 1 am only moderately religious,” said one— Jordan stipulated for a good clnirchwoman. “ 1 play the piano, but I never learnt how to swim,” wrote another. The witness saw one of tho ladies at the seaside, but although he could not toll Sir Frank in what respect she failed to come up to his standard, tho engagement somehow did not come oil'. Counsel suggested that lie was corresponding with Alice May at the time, and in a voice of assumed pathos, which provoked a burst of laughter, exclaimed : “ Oh, false Mr Jordan ! A oil complain of being duped by the defendants, and you are actually corresponding with Alice May at the same time as you were seeing the other lady at the seaside ! What was it, Mr Jordan, which made you change your old love? (Laughter.) Was it ‘ the wealth of dark brown hair’ ortho ‘ A 7*JO a year ?’ (Laughter.) I put it to you as an honourable hairdresser—(laughter)—do you think it is quite right corresponding with this ‘wealth of brown bai;,’ and meeting this lady at the seaside ?’

Mr Jordan did not think that ho was corresponding at tho same time as ho met the lady. Sir Frank did not got much change out of Jordan, and was perhaps not sorry to lot the young man go. His next victim was Mr Douglas David White Driver, a fino, burly Irishman, with a delicious touch of brogue. The Association “ touched ” Mr Driver for £ls, but he also is still a lonely man, though tho introductions supplied him by the Association included two apparently eligible young ladios, one of them being alleged to bo endowed with .£IBOO per annum and tho other with AI2OO. He wrote to both, but no love letters filled bis pjstbag in return. Afterwards ho penned a missive to a Miss Kirs haw, but that damsol replied through tho negotiator that “ she would prefer to wait a few days before deciding to enter into correspondence. To Miss Cx-anfield Mr Drivor sent his photograph, and tho young lady wrote back that “ Aou seem to

bo at poaco with all tho world.” Unhappily the negotiations with this lady broke down. It appeared that Miss Oranfield had become “engaged” elsewhere and had returned Mr Driver’s photos to tho Association. Mr AVarburton had tho first shot in cross-examination at Mr Driver. He had described himself to the Association as “ a barrister who didn’t practice.” “Possibly,” asked Mr Warburton “you thought that if you put yourself down as one of us, you would stand in a greater advantage ?” “Oh, dear, no’’was the prompt reply, at which there was a great laugh, one of the jury chuckling immoderately. The itecorder (addressing tho twelve good men and true): Please moderate your hilarity, gentlemen. This is, after all, a serious case.

Ml- Warburton: I put it to you, MiDriver, that you regarded this as a joke ? Mr Driver did not think he should have paid the £'lo had he thought it was a joke.

To Sir Frank Lockwood witness said he had 20 names given to him, but he only made a selection. When he entered into these negotiations ho “ meant business at first.”

You wore living in a secluded part of your country ? —Ho was.

And you wanted something to break the tedium of your life?—Yes, Mr Driver did. Here followed the romance of Ml-Albert Grunfeld, a German gentleman in search of a wife. Being unsifted in tho outer courts of tho temple of Cupid, ho was admitted to the Fashionable Department for a further subscription of seven guineas. But still without bunging a wife. Answering Sir Frank Lockwood, witness said ho had in all 50 names given him. He thought three was tho greatest number with whom he -was corresponding at ono time. Some of the ladies he had actually seen, including a widow, ft was not a case of love at first sight with her for “ lie didn’t care to seo her again.” A more hopeful introduction was that of a lady whose name sounded like Shonbcrg. Sir Frank: You wrote to her, I see, at a most appropriate address —Harmony Club, Fit/.roy square, and you begin your letter, “My dearest, I was very much disappointed all day at not having a letter from my darling,” and concluded it, “ With best love.”

Witness: 1 was only on friendly term with her.

Sir Frank: Is that the way to write to “ a friend ” in Germany ? Witness: I wrote to her in the same style as she wrote to me. Sir Frank road another letter in which were some crosses and the number 500,000. “ What do crosses mean in Germany?” ho asked. “Do they mean kisses ?”

AYitness: I only copied them from her letters.

Did sho send you 500,000 crosses ?— Oh, yes, millions. Beading another letter counsel stumbled across the passage “ I have just come from a jeweller friend to get you a ring.” “No, No. AYo are getting near it now,” exclaimed Sir Frank triumphantly. “ Was this an engagement or wedding ring ?” Witness said it was only a present. Sir Frank : I see you finish up with live million crosses.

After a pause, counsel saul he was most anxious nut to exaggerate the number. His friend had pointed out that there were only 500,000 after all. Now, Mr Grunfeld, is it not a fact that this lady became engaged to lie married to you ? No. Didn’t you sit down and dino at the same table with your future mother-in-law ?

Witness (indignantly) : No. 1 protest against the suggestion.

Are we to take it that thoso letters represent your true feelings towards this lady?— At the moment I wrote them perhaps they did. Are you not in correspondence with this lady up to the piesent time? When did you receive your last letter from her? —Well, 1 had a letter from her yesterday. Sir Frank (with a beaming smile) : \\ ill you allow me to hope that you will be very happy? Throughout this passage the Court was kept on the laugh, and everybody was sorry when the case was adjourned. Thu end came on Thursday, when the jury found against .John Skates, Daniel Skates and John Abrahams, but acquitted Maddows, and diHerod as to the g-uiit of Hennali. The convicted rascals were sentenced to five and three year.,’ penal servitude, the major sentence tailing upon John Skates.