ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10813, 1 February 1921, Page 6

ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY

WAR BRIDE SHOT DEAD SOLDIER’S PROMISE OF “A HAPPY HOME.” THE DISILLUSIONMENT. LIVERPOOL, December-23. A story of sudden transition from romance to tragedy, in which a beautiful Liverpool girl of 20 met a terrible fate in America has been made known iiere. The girl, Mrs Teresa Adams, has just been shot and killed by her husband in a cafe in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., after a war marriage which appeared to offer the bride the best prospects of’ a happy life. In 1917 Tessie Hopkins was living with her mother at 85, Crown street, Liverpool, when she became acquainted with an American corporal named Tom Adams. Ho was ib man of genial personality, and captured the girl’s heart, and was received with favour by her family and other relatives. ife represented himself as being iu a good wav of business in Portland, Oregon, and talked of becoming a proprietor in the motor industry. 300 WEDDING GUESTS. The wedding took place at St. Michaels’ Church, West Derby road, Liverpool, on February 3rd, 1918, and vvas quite a social event. A wealthy relative of tlie bride lent her own large residence in one of the most fashionable quarters of the city for the reception, at which there were over 300 guests’. Adams was in the Motor Transport Service, and it was a motor wedding, and scores of cars were at the church. Although the bridegroom was only a corporal, the best man was his commanding officer. After the Armistice Adams returned to America, ostensibly to look after his business in Portland, and to provide a home for his bride, who was to follow later. Tessie’s future certainly looked bright, and when the time came for her to cross the Atlantic to rejoin her husband she set out with a light heart. Misfortune, however, befell her oven on the voyage; for she had stolen hom her the luggage containing her wedding presents. 4 A CHANGED LOVER. Arid it was a changed Tom who met her on arrival, tee was no longeY the genial-and ardent lover, but surly and quarrelsome; and when his wife asked about the beautiful home and the motor business, he confessed it was all a lie, and ended by saying ; c ‘l’ll take you to my home, and if you don’t like it you can leave it.” She went, but op seeing the dwelling and the district her disillusionment was complete. While Adams’s army record was satisfactory, she learned Hi at liis civilian history was bad, and four months ago she left him to earn .her own livelihood in a restaurant. The man pursued her, and robbed li6r of her earnings. Mrs Adams unburdened herself in letters to her sister. . She said divorce papers were being served upon her husband. THE END. In response to her piteous appeal, the wealthy relative at whose house the wedding reception had been held, was last week preparing to leave for America to bring the girl back, when she received the following telegram:— "Tessie Adams shot and killed by her husband in cafe. Husband arrested and confessed to murder.” When in her teens the girl had been tho model for a picture now in the Liverpool Art Gallery, “The Angel of Peace.”