A WELLINGTON ELOPEMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1058, 11 July 1883, Page 2

A WELLINGTON ELOPEMENT.

{Post, June 6.) A considerable amount of scandal has been caused in Wellington during the past seven or eight days by the elopement of a wellknown married man with a young lady who has just attained her majority. The particulars of the case were made known to us a week ago, but were purposely withheld, in the hope that efforts which were being made to induce the young lady to return to hje T home might, be successful, The attempt proved futile, however, and the matter is now being made the subject of legal proceedings. The man concerned in the affair is Mr' Alexander Malcolm, late of the firm of Gillett Bros, and Co., merchants, Wellington and Palmerston North, the lady .being - Miss Williams, aged il, the daughter of a schoolteacher, residing at Sandon, in the Eaugi tikei

distil?!. Miss Willi;.’, cos. v.hoio personal charms arc said to be very captivating, was well known to. both Sir and Mrs Malcolm and during three or four months she resided with them, she was treated like one of the family. Wishing for a change of scene, she applied for and obtained a situation as governess in a family in Wellington, where she remained until a few weeks ago. During the time she was in Wellington, Malcolm is said to have bad several meetings with her, and on more than one occasion was seen in company with her in the public thoroughfares. The elopement took place on the 22nd on which day Malcolm proceeded to the Union Company’s office, and took out a ticket for Auckland for the lady, giving the name of Miss Willis. He did not book at the office, and is supposed to have done so onboard* After securing the passage the pair drove to an hotel in Cuba street, where they partook of luncheon together, and at i o’clock they left for the North in the steamer. Thei r flight was, not discovered for eevera* days.' As soon as the painful news was communicated to Mr Williams he immediately took steps to bring his daughter back, but so far they have not been crowned with success, Mrs Malcolm also ; lodged ■ an * information charging her husband with wife desertion* and the detectives' were set- upon his track, but the officers have been unable to overtake the runaway, and are convinced 'that the couple have gone to Levnka by the s.s. Penguin, which left Auckfahd on' the 29th ult*. During the past few days, it has been ascertained from barmaid that ■Malcolm informed her some weeks ago that it • bis intention to “clear out”of Wellington was with a female friend, but she paid - little attention to his remarks at the time, believing that they were only uttered in a jocular manner. It has also been found that previous to his sudden depature he drew money in the Savings Bank belonging to his wife, sold shares in various companies, and also realised on everything he could lay his handson-. Malcolm leaves two children with his wife at Palmerston North,