STRANGE LOVE STORY OF IVY MILLER

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 7

STRANGE LOVE STORY OF IVY MILLER

TOURED NEW ZEALAND AS HONEYMOON COUPLE

Wealthy Old Man Who Worshipped Her, Showered Gifts Upon Her— and Died In Her Arms

THE settling of . the rights of their illegitimate child made the romance public. The late Robert John Coghill Maddrell had allegedly promised to do many things for the child of Ivy Olive Marian Miller, but had given nothing m black and white, and the executors of his estate refused to recognize any liability. Before the Chief Justice and a jury last week an action was brought for the recovery- of £105 m respect of maintenance of the child of Mrs. Miller. The defence was that the deceased was not the father of the child on whose behalf the claim was made. Counsel "W. J. Curtis,, K.C., and Lawyer Brian Fuller, instructed by Lawyer W. Arnott, appeared for the plaintiff, and Counsel A. : R. J. Watt, K.C., for the defendants. Opening the case for the plaintiff. Counsel Curtis, K.C., said that the facts he was about to unfold were the strangest ever laid before a judge and jury. "There are cases," he said, "when counsel cannot handle the facts with kid gloves, and when you hear this girl's story, the defence will not redound to the executors' credit. The old man mv.st turn m his grave. . . ." Thunder rolled and hail rattled on the roof as if to add to counsel's wrath., "The memory of the dead is no greater than the rights of the living. This woman is not fighting for herself. She does not want a penny for herself. But she wants the promises of the dead man honored."

A Wonderful Man

"Don't think I am going to throw any bouquets at her," said Counsel Curtis, as a prologue to the actual story. "It is my duty to explain the facts fully. "In the first instance, she met an old man, and probably considered him a silly old gentleman, but she became genuinely fond of him." The plaintiff's career as a helper m a wine bar and a nurse at Callan Park Hospital was referred to. At the time of meeting deceased she was living at Darlinghurst, Sydney. The romance started one evening when the plaintiff was looking into a window m King Street, Sydney. The old man approached and asked if there was anything she would like. The giH repulsed him, but the story of the lonely old man from the country won the day, and the pair enjoyed a theatre that evening. More theatres, suppers, picnics, and presents followed — then the inevitable request to "come away for a weekend." "I'll admit the worst against this woman," said counsel at this stage of | the recital — '"she went for a week-end to Cronulla." Deceased must have been .a wonderful man for his years, said Counsel Curtis. He had been a very active man, and obviously an admirer of the fair sex — no doubt about that! After a while, the story continued, these two occupied the same flat m town, from March to June, 1923. The man was most generous, and with what the woman had saved from his gifts she decided to make a breakaway. She took a second-class passage to America. A bathe at Pago-Pago was the cause of a serious illness, which had her at death's door on arrival m America. The only man m America whom she knew, had been advised of her arrival — his name was Miller. He met her with an ambulance and took her to hospital.

Her Lonely Lover

Miller had always been fond of her, and he lost no opportunity of pressing his attentions. "What could she do?" asked counsel. "She was stranded, helpless, ill, almost dying, so she decided to marry this man. "She was so ill that the judge performed the ceremony m the street. And m a little while the woman found she had made a mistake." The lonely lover left behind m Sydney again appears on the scene. By cable he acquainted his mistress that he had been away from her long enough, and inside three weeks he took the boat for America. On arrival m the States he begged her to leave her husband, which she did, and the two of them went for a trip through California and Mexico. Back m San Francisco once more, where the husband was living, serious complications arose. Miller got the police to work, and as American law makes it a criminal offence to steal another man's wife, old man Maddrell was m danger of going to gaol. Owing to the circumstances, Mrs. Miller decided to go back to her still loving husband. Maddrell followed his heart's desire and once more Mrs. Miller left her lawful spouse.

i (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.) 'THIS is the story of the romance of an old man and a

young girl, whose love was deep but not too wise. A man tf seventy and a girl of twenty. He met her by chance m the street, and followed her over the seas, and she loved him for his kindness and goodness. She gave herself to him, and their affection lasted till the end. He died — happy—^-in her arms.

On this occasion, however, he took proceedings for divorce and a decree was pronounced. Back m Sydney love ran its smooth course, ivy took up a residential business m Darlinghurst. "There is no doubt," said Counsel Curtis, "that at that time they were living together as man and * wife." After April, Ivy made another trip to America, but as Maddrell could not go she returned almost immediately. At this stage letters - written from the Hotel Australia and elsewhere by deceased to the plaintiff were read m court. ■ "For goodness sake, dear, don't let anyone else take my place," was one excerpt.

One of the letters was couched m the following endearing terms: "My dear Ivy, — Possibly I should not address you thus after the 'Frisco episode. Once, more m Sydney and much regret your absence. Now, dear, do not forget your promise, and keep our next meeting at Goulburn always before you. Do not miss the opportunity while you have the means, and have all sorts of regrets afterwards which are sure to come. My voyage, with one exception, and that was your absence, could not have been better. Nice companions and good weather. "On arrival, I wrote your mother a few lines, enclosing £10 as a present from you and me. Also sent you a parcel.

"A night or two ago I had a most extraordinary dream. I thought I met you and you said: 'Rob, I want to go for a week-end with you. Get a car.' I went off for one, and on coming back could not find you, and then I hunted about and found you on the corner of Seventh Street, talking to a man. I said: 'Hello, Ivy! What's the meaning of this?' You replied: 'This is a friend of mine named Johns. 1 The shock awoke me, so you see, dear, how much you are m my thoughts, and, if you value your future, trip back and strike while the iron is warm. "I have your photo on my dressing table, and am asked no end of questions. My only an- • swer is: 'A charming San Francisco friend;' They think I am getting quite giddy m my old days. "Now, «dear, au revspir! Be sure and write from the bottom of your heart. Best love from yours always—Rob." Another letter ran: "Dearest, — I am, indeed, sorry you have been so ill, but do hope you are now an the mend. Do 'not let the nurse go too soon. Be very careful after you get up. By this post I am sending you some lilies. Fortunately, I . picked them last night; as a severe frost has blackened the rest . . . Now, dear, do for once m your life be careful, as otherwise you might be an invalid. Much love to you and Teddy, from yours ever — Rob." At the end of 1925 a certain event

In New Zealand

was 'imminent, continued counsel, arid plaintiff asked Maddrell to do something for her. "I'll just love to have that child," counsel said was Maddrell's reply. "Don't worry; I'll provide for it and I'll provide for you." "The woman," said Counsel Curtis, "had this child because the old man wanted it. He had no doubt about the paternity of the child." On arrival at the residential chambers of Elizabeth Ann Robinson, m Phillip Street, Sydney, Maddrell was greeted with the news that he was the father of a bouncing boy. "I'm the happiest man alive!" was his reply, said counsel, and , he immediately went away and got a bottle of champagne which he cracked with Mrs. Robinson. In the meantime, Maddrell had bought a place at Mosman, which he called "Rob -Ivy." "Rather a harsh word if construed according to the executors' version of the affair," said Counsel Curtis, "but Rob and Ivy are their Christian names, and m their deep love they so christened it." There, said counsel, deceased grew a little ivy vine, which he watered every day. Another trip was also taken to New Zealand, and throughout the whole tour it was alleged they were known as Mr. and Mrs. Maddrell. "Now here is the real crux of the issue you've got to decide," said Counsel Curtis. "The old man . had said nothing about making provision for the child. In the exuberance of the time he had no idea the Almighty w§is going to call him." • Plaintiff had taxed him on the subject, and he had promised, she said, to allow £5 a week f or its maintenance and education during life, and on the death of deceased's eldest son the child was to be heir to Maddrell's estates. "The closing scenes were rather sad," remarked counsel. "The old gentleman passed away m Mrs.

Lounge Episode

Miller's arms, without pain or trouble, as if going to sleep." Mrs. Miller entered the box laboring under considerable emotion, but she bravely held back the tears. When she went to Cronulla with doceased, she said, she did not know he was a married man. She wore a Wedding ring:, and they were known as Mr. and Mrs. Murray. In San Francisco Maddrell used to sit outside her flat m a taxi trying to see her. There was a "scene" m a hotel lounge m 'Frisco between her lawful husband, the detectives, Mrs. Maddrell and herself. The lawful husband took proceedings and claimed 50,000 dollars, but no money was paid over. At this point, Counsel "Watt, K.C., for ■the executors, intimated that the documents relating to the divorce would have to be produced m court, and Counsel Curtis asked for an adjournment. On resuming next day, it was stated that the parties had come to an agreement. The terms were not disclosed. "But I am m a position to say they are honorable terms," added the Chief Justice. And as Ivy Miller left the court her look of quiet satisfaction showed that she considered the future of her child had been adequately provided for. [111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111l