STOPPING A WEDDING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 10

STOPPING A WEDDING

DRAMATIC CHURCH SCENE Evidence fay a wife regarding _ a dramatic scene at the local . parish church, when a wedding was stopped fay the police, was a feature of the resumed hearing at Mortlake, Surrey, of a charge against Bertie Hammond, aged 33, kineraa operator. fiamihond was charged with attempting to marry Lucy Elizabeth Smith, his wife being still alive, •■ ‘ , , ■ • . At the previous hearing Detective Sergeant Brunsden described how he visited the church With Mrs Hammond and saw t the vicar and Hammond. According to the detective, when Hammond was told he would be arrested, he admitted Mrs Hammond was his wife, but stated be believed she had divorced him. When the hearing was resumed, Mrs Hammond, of Chiswick, stated that she married the accused at Turnham Green on May 16, 1921, and lived with him until July, 1932, when he deserted her. There were three children. The next • time she saw him was when she visited Mortlake Parish Church with a detective. *She went into the vestry, and later her husband was. shown in. ; Tlie vicar showed Hammond the banns of marriage form, ■ and, he, replied that the particulars were correct. “He then - looked straight at me,” continued Mrs Hammond; “and-I said: ‘You are my husband! 5 He replied: ‘Who are you? I don’t know you.’ I said: ‘ I’m your wife,’ and tfien left the vestry.”^ In a letter last Christmas, said wit-

ness, Hammond told her he had been out of wprk and was sorry he could not send her any money. • Since he left her she had received only about £2 10s. Hammond: Did we agree for a mutyal separation the day I left you? .. Mrs. Hammond;, N 0,,.. ’ - Two years ago did I hot ask you to divorce me; as life was intolerable? ; Witness: You have several times, asked me, but hot'two years ago. The chairman of the Bench inquired what was Mrs Hammond’s' reply to the divorce request. She replied: “ I had no evidence or money,.: I was destitute.” Hammond: Did I write and tell you I had met someone whom I cared fort very, very, much? ‘ • Witness : ■ Yes, and I wrote back-and asked you if you would meet me and come to some amicable, settlement, but I had hd reply to my letter. Hammond was committed for trial.