PERCY PLANTAGENET BIGWOOD.

NZ Truth, Issue 174, 17 October 1908, Page 4

PERCY PLANTAGENET BIGWOOD.

Marries the "Merry Widow" — Carrie Moore.

CRUELLY DESERTS HIS MISTRESS.

Distressing Tale of Deceit— lvy Silva's Sad Story — Mrs< Moore Interviewed— Bigwood a Bounder.

Last week "Truth" briefly referred to that king of bounders, "Percy Plantaganet Bigwocd,',' Avho with a lady and two children had for some time basked m the toniest of New Zealand's toney circles. Melbourne "Truth" has interviewed the lady, and the 'following is taken from the columns of that journal :— . ' ( The lady, who was freeiy introduced as Mrs Bigwood, seems to be well connected, and is a recipient of welcome remittances. The sr.id remittances have apparently formed the basis of all ' the Bigwood financial operations and plunges. During his peregrinations m the land of the Moa, he met the k well-known TRAINER, D. J. PRIUIV whose headquarters are m Mordialloc, 4e marine suburij; o f Melbourne. That acquaintatideship'! was the forerunner of many subsequent sensational developments,. Bigwood managed to spot a .splendid racing pony, called Balgonie. He obtained a cheque from his lady love; ; and acquired the equine wonder for 100 guineas. It did some startling trials, and beat the best of Price's string. It was thereupon arranged that the pony should be entered for AVren's Thousand. That meant a 'lot for Bigwood. The game was to keep the good thing , as dark as possible, and m addition to- the appropriation of the handsome stake, to get as much money on. as possible at long odds^ About FOUR MONTHS AGO BIGWOOD ' arrived from New Zealand and went to Mordialloc' He stayed at Hill's hotel, which is the toniest m the place, and asked the proprietress if she could accommodate liis wife and family. Mrs Hill replied m the affirmative, and a suite of rooms was set apart for their use. In due course '''Mrs Bigwood," the babies and' the nurse arrived. Also, the ponyand, its trainer. There was no color of coin displayed, but the "sport" put on- such aristocratic airs , that the pub. -keeper was duly impressed with the, importance, not to say wealth, of her guests. He is a TALL, SQUARELY-BUILT MAN, and, at the "time m question, wore a light moustache. Otherwise he was clean-shuv-en. He* dressed . immaculately . m "Jang-lish-looking" clothes, and was most exclusive, m his habits. "He neyer shouted for anyone m the house," said the barmaul. "He would come to the private bar* and have a' drink ph. his own, but we did not put that down to meanness. We attributed it to his superiority and his refine- 1 ment." "Mrs Bigwood" is described as a tair young lady of a lighi} complexion, cultured, and lady-like. Her eldest child is a boy. He is between two and three years of age. The second, a girl, is a little over 12 months, ,old; ' "I did not like Mrs Bigwood when she first came to the hotel," 'said a lady, "beoawse I thought she was too much taken up with herself to the detriment of her little children, who seemed to be practically, foster-mothered on to the nurse ; but afterwards I found she was very kind to- them, let them want for nothing, and carefully studied their every requirement m an unobtrusive. V v WELL-BRED SORT OP WAY. ' Finally I got to like the lady. • She confided m me to some extent. She told me that the pony, Balgonie, was her . property. She was very' interested'in it, and constantly gave instructions concerning it." Things went on quite happily for a while. It. was - understood that Mr Price and Mr Bigw.ood had got money on. at 15 to 1 ; ttien the price shortened to 10 to 1, and finally to Bto 1. They stood to win a pot of money. Ultimately Balgonie turned up trumps, and won Wren's Thousand 1 , as you know. The Bigwoods got over £2000. That made a • different man of the "husband." He commenced to loom up largely m sporting and theatrical circles, and dine out at city cafes, the" SAVOY BEINQ HIS FAVORITE for tete-a-tete luncheons and suppers. Then he was struck with the "Merry Widow" crowd, who were creating a craze at Her Majesty's m Melbourne. He posed as an English sportsman, who was touring the cawlonies for pleasure, and doing a little punting just for the fun of the thing, and m order to gratify his love of sport. He was accepted at his own valuation, and Vhen he invited the company to off-night dinners at the Mordialloc hotel they readily accepted. t' CARRIE MOORE, however, was always an absentee. "Mrs Bigwood" was introduced to the newfound friends, and; r .anade herself .most agreeable. They att^r^^sedhet as the charming wife 1 ofi - ;fj theit; \ Reitoerojis ho§ti. Then, \vlien the:^B ; ,^mp -.^e Merry Widow and her '^VM^T^mmSxf to depart, Bigwosct '^Flttged^^ a^tolciwfout at the Savqy; a t#hich Carried was present, but "Mr- C . Bigwood" was non est. The company went on tour. Bigwood does .-;jt SO em to have followed. Probably hf- bad some racing biz. to do. He had soil Balgonie for i-500, and was said, to .other good things m store. He never Merry Widow again until she Jttade her advent m Brisbane. In the meantime "Mrs Bigwood" and her babies re'ibiaahcd at Mordialloc. He made the £ ■-?' IJACE1 J ACE PRETTY STRONGin Bananaland, and later on when Carrie opened at Her Majesty's, Sydney, he was her adoring attendant. He was 'catting high jinks all round ; but his assumed wife seems to have some masterly control over the purse strings.- Either by rer mittances, or otherwise, she evidently remained the most stable cashier. She had an account at the Bank of New Zealand, and her cheque book shows her paper has been periodically honored for large sunis, while Percy apparently had numerous loans. When it was announced that Lord Northcotc's motor-car was for sale; Percy wanted to purchase it "for Carrie." He reckoned it would be a big advertisement to toot-toot about m the s GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S 15 H.P. "TALBOT." Whether he had got financially reduced below the figure demanded, or whether he desired to alloy/ Ms bank balance to remain unmolested, m view of other '•' approaching events, it is not quite clear, but <:crtain it is that "Mrs Bigwood,' of Mordialloc, received a loving letter from the qiiondam hubby one morning asking for a cheque for 320 guineas. The money was duly forwarded, and the car was purchased. The sassiety papers announced that "PERCY PLANTAGENET BIGWOOD, Esquire, an English gentleman on tour, had bought the motor car of his Excellency the Governor-General." That !.-ounUctl quite hie; and -mighty, and the 00 under was raised "m social importance accordingly. Bad news travels ouickly, and '.'Mrs Bigwood," of Mordialloc, recai?od very heartrending information concerning her Percy's carryings-on. She /learned that he was Carrie, Moore's shadow, and the motor car was\_at- the complete disposal of that lady. jrh« people at Hill's Hotel say she displayed signs of great worry a/hd distress. At last, on the advice of friends, she made up her mind to visit Sydney to discover what the rumors meant. She bought herself many beautiful clothes, m order to appear attractive m the eyes of her lord. She arrived In Sydney and confronted him. HE PALAVERED HER OVER. He 'told her she was a silly little girl to believe all she heard. He admitted that he had been friendly with the Merry Widow, but it was all^ust a harmless flirtation. "In a few weeks' time," he'ad'i*»V

"Carrie Moore is to be married. She will then pass entirely out of my life, and l shall return to , you, when we will foe as happy as of yore." The distressed mother of the bounder's children had no alternative but to accept f..c hypocritical assurance. Anyhow, she it.v accept it, and, m accordance with his earnest desire, returned to the Mordi-alloc hotel, where she continued to mope sadly m the day time and cry her eyes out m. a lonely bed at night. Oh Wednesday last week the climax came, when she received a ■■ . BRUTAL, HEARTLESS WIRE, the meaning of which' will subsequently transpire. It read, according to one - authority— , • "Been free two months. Have married Carrie' Moore. Good-bye." ' ' The shock was so tremendous that the unfortunate young lady 1 was rendered prostrate. A local doctor was sent for, and, under his treatment, she rallied, but she kept her own counsel. On Thursday, however, her shame, and the cause of her grief and illness, became public property. ■A press telegram gave out that — "Miss Carrie Moore, the popular actress, who is now appearing as the Merry Widow m the comic opera of that name at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, was married on Wednesday morning "to Mr Percy Plantagenet Bigwood, AN. ENGLISH SPORTSMAN, who is tofuring the Commonwealth of Australia and the , Dominion of New Zealand for pleasure. The ceremony was quietly -performed at- the Congregational Ohurch, Castlereagh-street. " Much sympathy was expressed for "Mrs B gwood" at the Mordialloc Hotel. Everybody was unanimous m. designating Percy Plantagenet as a blackguardly scoundrel. The proprietress of the pub. is a kind, homely little body, and she assured the deserted girl that every consideration would be displayed towards her. The niceness of such womanly sympathy is accentuated when itfis stated that during the whole of the time the Bigwoods have been fn tue 'hotel Mrs Hill has , RECEIVED -NO MONEY for their board- and lodging. Even "The Merry Widow" dinners and suppers -have all been 1 booked. When the deserted girl; found herself surrounded by friends, ready' and willing to help her, she owned up to her past relations with Bigwood. Althofugh not conveyed exactly m her own words, this is practically what she said— I am 23 years of age, and my name is Ivy Silva, lam not married to .the man I have been living with lor the past six : years. He is .the father of both my babies, and I have been loyal and true to Mm. Percy Plantagenet Bigwood is not his right name. Both he and I have travelled about as. man and wife under various aliases. What his real name is does riot matter. He comes of a respectab,e family, and has (been well brought up. He /has often told me himself that HE IS: A NE'ER DO WELL, a scapegrace, and a black sheep of a worthy family. I had kind parents and a beautiful home, but I need not go into that. I have disgraced my darling parents l enough a& it is, without further identifying them with my shame. When I first met the gentleman you know as "Bigwood," I was a girl m short frocks. I was only 15 years of age. I liked him very much, although' he was 12 years older than me. We parted, and he went out of my life. I had forgotten him almost until I met him a couple of . years later on a steamer. My health had not been good, and my mother had. determined that I should take a sea trip. I was proceeding from England to Teneriffe, m the' Canary Island, where J. intended, to recuperate." Percy was goving to South Africa, or somewhere. He had got into bother with his family at home. I had' more money at my disposal than he had. 'He ' i MADE LOVE TO ME, arid I reciprocated. I: was of the romantic, impressionable age. I became - deeply attached to him. In fact, 1 laarned to love him with my whole soul and every fibre of my body.- I lpve him just as much now. At first he promised to marry rtH& v.Then he told me with grief m his^yoiOß > and tears m his eyes that we cd^l^;jiof-|^e>%iarried. He already ha4M ". wifk .he did not love, anJPsbm' yrY&id he: ; 3ad sgpafi.ated. I ag<3erfifi!ia^^^f».»y thP, Case. The ques"tio|t ; W^':i?]^l?herl should give him up and part f#%TOf; from my idol, or whether 1 should v<^,C SACRIFICE MY'''"Msn'oß and live with him as a wife m the sight of Clod until he could make me his wife m the sight of the law. He • persuaded me to take the latter course, and I yieldfcd. I am a creature of misfortune. I feel I would yield again. I love Mm so very much. If he were to leave Carrie 1 Moore and come back to me ■ now, I don't believe I would have the heart to refuse forgiveness. "But," said a listener, "he could not marry you now." "No, no, perhaps not," the girl went on, m effect, "but when a woman loves as I do she will bear a lot." But to continue. We lived as man and wife, and I never returned to -, MY BEAUTIFUL HOME any more, We travelled '*> about to dif- > fererit parts of the world under different names, and spent many happy years. I have an income m my own right, but I will not touch my family affairs. When- my first baby boy was born 1 wrote to my mother and told her. I said straight /out that 1 was not married to Percy, but it had been arranged that if ever he was free of his encumbrance we would get married and legitimatisc the child. That was the untfer- :. landing all along. It was repeated time and again. My mp'.:.K replied m great bitterness. She upbraided me, and ENLARGED ON MY DISHONOR. She told me I had bowed her head m shame and disgrace. I never wrote home after that. Percy did not take as much notice of the baby boy as I should-have liked. He always said he longed for a little girl. Then, to my joy, a baby girl came, and 1 thought, with such a pledge, our lives would be indissoluble, but he hardly noticed the child, and my hope was gone. Then we came to Australia and you kbow what has happened here. We have been together m many big cities, and he has never left me before. It seems strange I should be deserted now m a place like Australia. He says m his telegram that he *ias been free two months. 1 • never knew. It would have been glad tidings to me, 1 can assure you. . I don't know how he has become free. His wife may be dead, or she may , : • - HAVE DIVORCED HIM. She could have easily done so. As I have said, I love him so well that if lie gives up Carrie Moore I will forgive him and wait ou again m the hope that he will ultimately niarry me. "Have you forgiven him before ?" was a query advanced. "Yes, but not for such a thing as marrying another woman, alter all the sacrifices I have made." I "If he refuses to desert his present i wife, what will you do ?" I . "Then. I will ask him to make provision j for the inainlr-nvince of his children. II i he refuses to do that I wtfi fi&at kirn [

not only for myself, but for the children." . , "Has lie any money?" /'No, only ' what he has been lucky enough to win on the STRENGTH OF MY CAPITAL. I believe he backed Mooltan for the Metropolitan. I was tti receive one-half of (he proceeds." ' "Have you any documentary proof of his promises to marry you ?" "Yes, many such proofs." : ';Have you proof that he traded on your money ?" ■ ; "I can show my cheque book, my baluk book, and drafts. I have advanced sums wp to £1,500:" j , Mr,s Bigwood, or Ivy Silva, subsequently admitted to her friends that she was overdrawn on her account at the Bank ot New Zealand, and Had .-•'no. V money until replenishments arrived: ;A; subscription was at once opened on her behalf at the Mbrdialloc Hotel, and ■ . ■ PLENTY OP MONEY was forthcoming to enable her to proceed to Sydney. She left by the express on Friday, and arrived at the oapital of the Mother State last Saturday morning. She at once placed herself m communication with Solicitor Carroll, who issued a writ on her alleging breach of promise of marriage, and claiming £5000 damages. The lawyer man' also, impounded Lord Northcote's motor-car. Percy and bride Carrie were awaiting the arrival of the, 1 - "show-foor" m. order to proceed to tpe* A.J.C. meeting atKandwick. Solicitor Carroll came instead and served the writ. The "happy couple" went to the races m another, motah, and Carrie played m • the "Merry Widow" the same night. Nothing further has developed siaice, except that a mutual understanding has been arrived at between the parties 'that the car shall remain at Elliott's garage pending the legal proceedings. \ ' CARRIE'S MOTHER INTERVIEWED. A "Truth" reporter interviewed the "Merry Widow's" mother, at the latter's residence, 48 C#rlton-street, Carlton, during the week. In reply to polite queries, the lajdy said she knew nothing of the marriage until she, received a telegram from ther daughter announcing that ■it had taken place! Carrie had been engaged to. be married to VMr William/ F.foctor, who resides at. Manchester, England. He belonged to a good family, who had at first raised objections to the match on account of the theatrical pro? fession. After the young man's mother > HAD §EEN CARRIE, however, •■■ she , consented . Proctor had also been introduced to Mr J. C. Williamson, \ who speaks highly of him, as do other members of the profession who have had; the pleasure of his rfequaintance. It had originally been arranged that Proctor should visit' Australia, marry Carrie there, ancb return with his bride to • London, where she is to play. the boy part m a panto, at the Adelphi during, the Christmas season. After that Carrie was to give up the stage, and live quietly m a Manchester home t as Mrs., Proctor. Her fiancee has had' the fact of the Bigwood marriage cabled to him. ■ ■-.'"* Statements have been made that 'Miss Moore had' been previduslyw married.- ■ A paragraph ■•■ FROM THE "SKETCH" " of Depember 18,' last year, states :— Cinderella is to be iproduced at the Royal, Birmingham, on Boxing Day, with Miss Phvllis Dare as Cinderella, Miss Carrie Moore as the Prince, Mr Fred Leslie as Daridini, . and Mr Dan Rolyatt (who is Miss -Moore's husband) as the Baron. Mrs Moore was asked if it was true that her daughter had ever been married prior to meeting Bigwood, and the reply was AN EMPHATIC NEGATIVE. "No," said the lady, "and I am surprised she is married now. She cannot lmow anything of this Bigwood. I am afraid she has fallen m badiy. I thought it was all settjed about Willie Proctor. I really don't know what could have come over Carrie. She is a smart girl, a's a rule, but Bigwood, or whatever his name is, has caught her napping. He is a divorced fallow, they say, and has been living with a girl, by whom lie has two children, and, worse still, be has no money. 1 am sorry for UartTef,:: and I am sorry for thatf; POO*: girfcgpyy Silva. . ,■. To ■ ascertain the -ro-y'fep? sf;/iyi»i?^isf.. it paid by Carrie's niotl|eir ,tp Mbraiatloc on Wednesday, a "Truth* 1 :>ih«r>ie*er again called at Mrs Moore's-Carlton residence on Thursday. Airs Moore was dressed, ready to go out, v.hni the "Truth" man arrived, uut delayed her departure gladly to tell "the ve>y latest." "I am so pleased you camp," she began, "because if any paper will let the world know what this fellow is, it's your paper— "Tiuth." "I went out to Moi'diallcc yesterday, she cont nued, "because I wanted to find out everything for myself lefore writjng to Carrie again." Jerking -her lead to the pen I and ink, and an unfinished letter on t>he table, _ if was easy to understand that the letter to Carrie was proving a SOMEWHAT TROUBLESOME EPISTLE to indiie. Mrs Aloore then went on to say that she had purposely refrained from congratulating Carrie upon her marriage, although 1 scores of other people had doubtless dohe> so. "I sent no reply at all," she said, "to Carrie's telegram informing me of the marriage, • and Carrie was very much hurt' over' it. ' • ; "I don't believe; m these secret marriages," she went on ; "there's always somethine; to hide about them." "And what (lid yon find at Mordialloc?" asked the "Truth" man. "Symp.ithy from everybody," was the answer, "and especially from libat poor, jilted girl Ivy, -jind the two little kiddies that Bigwood has" left without a name. One is aged three and the, other only about twelve months.' Tho stats of the ppbr girl, they say, was something terrible . WHEN THE WIRE CAME from the fellow m Sydney telling her he had married Carrie. They say she almost went mad, and they were actually frightened she might harm herself. She couldn't speak ; she was struck dumb. She went white like marble ; and they had to give her three glasses of brandy before she could speak a word. They were [lightened toMet her out of their sight,-- fearful -that she "might do herseh an injury. And when she spoke of 'a bullet' she was told that although bullets were deserved by some people they were not for her. ! "All she could say," proceeded Mrs Mcore, "was 'Nmsie ! Nu'csie !' (to the children's nurse) 'I can't tell you.' The nurse, of course, was m the " house with her when the wire came. Ivy Silva had taken the furnished house, m which they were living, at Bigwood's suggestion. This was on her return from New Zea.land, where she had been on a flying trip to bring pver the two children and the nurse. , "Immediately upon her retura from New Zealand," continued .Mrs Moora. "Ivy Siiva appears to hay« heard eoraething about Bigwood and Carrie ; that their . j NFAM!*? WERE HHINC COUI LT-7D, [ «i.« no (oi U, Si* jm* t#s£ fc<"S S*M M

was not down at the boat to meet her m the first place. Then she got 'to hea* these rumors, and she went straight to Bigwood, who was m Sydney at the time, and asked him what it all meant. But he told her, with a laugh, that it meant nothing at all ; that he was merely having a bit of fun ; that, as a matter of fact, Carrie Moore was shortly to marry Proctor ; and, of course, that would be the end of her (Carrie) so far as he was concerned. He seems to have convinced her, at all events, that there was nothing m the rumors, for, afctec laughing it off, he told Ivy that sh» was A SILLY LITTLE GIRL to give credence to such gossip, and advised her to get back to Melbourne right off, and take the furnished house at Mordialloc, which: Ivy trustingly did." "And did Bigwood come back with her ?" asked "Truth's" representative. " No," said Mrs Moore, "I must tell you about that, just to show you what sort of -a. fellow he is. He went down to the train with ber to see her off, and, before parting, he said lie supposed she must be getting short ol money, after all the. expense of the New . Zealand trip, etc. ■ When she said, 'Yes, Perc, I am running a bit short, he produced a bank roll, and handed her £200— not to keep, however, as it turned out, for, prior to the train leaving, Bigwood asked her if she wasn't frightened to travel alone with that much money on her, and when she said that she was just ' a little bit nervous", he advised her not to take the money with her, but to leave it with him, and be .would wire it over immediately', so that, it would be here waiting for her upon her arrival m Melbourne. "You know what came instead, ' ' said Mrs Moore ;> "not the money-wire, but a wire to :this. effect : 'Have married Carrie Moore, ..''■"' , J DO THE BEST YOU CAN for yourself.' And then the poor girl had to admit everything— had to shame herself before all the .lreople. of Moxdi l- aloc, to whom she was known as Bigwood's wife, and had to tell them she wasn't his-' wife at all." And to the everlasting credit of Mrs Moore it can be. said right here that had the positions been reversed, with Ivy- now standing m Carrie's shoes, and vice versa, she (Mrs Mojrp) could not ' have been one whit, more sympathetic for the betrayed girl than the is. for Ivy Silva. "My word," she said, "Jjow those Mor-r dialloc, people, did stick to 1 her when they: heard the sLcry m all its cold, heartless details. Ivy; didn't even haVe her iare < to go to Sydney, but Mr "pick" Kowe, the weJI-J.'nouii sportsman, .and other visi itoiSj staying, at Mordittlloc," said SHE COULD HAVE' £100 if she wanted it,, and the money was soon forthcoming.. '■'■■ ■ "What I really cant understand about! it all," said JNfrs Moore, ; 'is this. They were so fond of/ one' another, Bigwood and the supposed Mrs Bigwood, right up to the very last. Everybody m Mordial-? loc seems to have noticed 1 this, and their mutual affection appeared to be so great that they 'came to be known, eventually, as 'The Honeymoon Couple.' "I can't understand that part of it,"repeated Carrie'B ' mother. "He must be as fickle iis .he is fascinating-, and they, say he's a really fascinating fellow." "How will his fickle tricks suit Carr\e should they 'happen to come het way?" was the next ' question. "Oh, trust Carrie !" was the reply^ "Carrie can look af'er fcers If, Kenersiljr speaking, although she appears to have made ■ ■ ■ • , -'■; A BIG MISTAKE this time. I don't know where it will all lead to if he expects her to earn mensy for him to go -racings' I don't think sue would stand much -'of that kind of thing,, even though she has. always teen so. good to us.. As for- the boast her husband is now making about fighliag the action fon £5000 damages, I .don/t suppose he's -got that many pence, apart from what he 'picks up on the racecourse.'? In conclusion, after explaining that there was so much talk about the whol« affair that they (the JYloores) were halfashamed*'to be. seen .oatside-. their own door, Mrs Moore said f he. had heard at Mordialloc that Jvy Sflva' was anytniug but a strong * young NVonian physically— that, on the contrary, - she suffered from weak lungs, one - lung • .being very badly affected ; and that it was only when ths Australian climate was fcund to hay& such a beneficial effect on her ailmenti that they DECIDED TO SETTLE HEKfcJ,and bring over the two children from New Zealand. In all probability it was this same lun£. complaint which had prompted Ivy's fateful trip to Tensrifia m the first plsice, see : ng that she was travelling m search of ttetter health, even at that time. Mrs Moore was also much upset, apparently at. what "poor Proctor" (si c called him) would think of it all. Ka was supposed (to be on his. way to Australia, to lead Carrie to the altar at the very moment when his betrothed was "signing on" with Bigwood. ">She must 3-ave tabled him btf jie ha reached Colombo." said Mrs Moore, "ahd »j^ ; tss3g|||: v.ould he .think ? Cf en and ■aftefc^^iave talked about the nice Engav '' aitin S '.-A^i'ie: ' iNow "sha ;jf#f #s^* l - c '- Aud for what ?" J£||WTLEMENT ARRANCED. cable has since been . received statinf that the breach of promise suit will uofl come into Court, a settlement having jb&ti reached under which Miss Silva will re- 1 ceive a certain sum of money and the inn pounded motor car. Although Mr J. J. Carroll asd Mi Arthur Decry, solicitors for tho pairtree, d»clined to disclose the terms of sotttemcatf^ it is gleaned from a reliable sourco th«» Mr Bigwood agreed to give Miss Silra something like £1500 . and the vice-regal' motor-car. ,• I Miss Silva is much elated at the fs-cti of ,her knowing that she'is now at liber? ty to release the handsojne car from Kb liott's motor garage in' OMtltnvglx street.