BIGAMIST’S LOVE LETTERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18844, 6 April 1931, Page 7

BIGAMIST’S LOVE LETTERS.

WRITTEN BY HIS WIFE. A bigamy case in which a wife was stated to have written love letters to the second woman for her husband, was heard at the Old Bailey lately. William George Chapman, of Pinner, pleaded guilty of going through a marriage ceremony with Ethel Francis Talbot, and he was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment in the second division. Prosecuting counsel said Chapman was married at St. Albans Cathedral in 1926, and there were two children. The bigamous marriage took place last June at Arundel. Chapman could not read or write, but there were letters in loving terms to the bigamous wife from him. They were in his wife’s handwriting. The two women were on friendly terms, and had been corresponding since the prosecution started. The judge read one of the letters which included the following passage: —“Best love for ever until we return to ashes.” He also read a letter from the wife to Miss Talbot, which, he said, appeared to be a proposal that while her husband was “doing time” Miss Talbot should live with her. The legal wife declined to give evidence. Miss Talbot went into the box, but fainted, and had to be taken out of court. The judge said it was astonishing how a wife could have written such letters for her husband. “Fortunately fo** her,” he added, “she has exercised her privilege of not giving evidence.”