A SINGULAR WEDDING SCENE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4561, 6 December 1882, Page 3

A SINGULAR WEDDING SCENE.

Ono of tho most .ineular sconce that have ever occurred ut SheQield was witnessed at tbo Puri.h Church tbe other morning, when Mr £. Knowles Binns, a well known solicitor, led a lady to tho altar under circumstances of con.iderablo difllculty. A short time ago Mra Ada Caroline Milne, a widow, who ia posseeped of £18,000, put an advertisement into a paper stating tha'- she wbb desirous of mooting a gentleman with a view to matrimony, and Mr Binns ronlied to tho advertisement. His attentions were not repulsed, but tho coureo of truo lovo was disturbed by tho lady's brother, Mr Liebert, of Harewood Houso, Tunbridge Wells, who charged Mr Binns with meroonary motives, and used physioal meant to ejtot him from the house.

; ThebrotWs statement is thai tho la: 1 .) is .-ansoundiin mind and^not fitted fcr the mar I riage ataie. StiU she oasmed determined to ; marry lit Binna. Theceremuny was arranged to take place at holf-p&gt nine o'clock, and at that tiraw Mr Liebert j. who haci come to Sheffield in the hope of preventing the wedding, had a carriage and pair, ready it the church gates, intending to carey off hi& sister by force rather ihan let the marriage pureed. Punctually adhalf-past nine o'blook a cab drsve into Ss. Jejnes' street, and- stoppod at the church gatos. Out of tho vehicle stepped Pr Spowxrt, a local modioal maa, and on his arm leaned Mrs Milne, the intended bride. Ao. soon as sho alight 3d her brother stepped forward, seized hor by th* arm, and eaid,. "Ada, Ada, come abog wish mo ; " bat eho refused, and clung to Dr Spowart, tho " best moa," in a very hjaterical Btate. The brother waa h«ld back by the police, and the lady, accompanied by Dr Bpowart, ran swiftly aoross the churohyard, followed by a crowd of exoited spectators. My Liobert, finding himself foiled, ohased his sister into the ehuroh, and seemed quite overcome uitb emotion. Dr Bpowart took tho lady itto the vestry, where aha was shortly afterwards joined by Mr Binns, who, although rather pale, seemed the least concerned of the party. Tho brother appeared half stunned with the turn events had, taken, and leaned with his head in his hands against a pew. Buiwhen his sister and Mi. Binna appeared at the altar, and the service had gone on to tha, place whore the cloi-gyman says, "If anyone can show just cauae why these two should; not be joined together in holy matrimony," he stepped forwwd to the altar rails, and said, " I can, Bir. I protest against this marriago." He then stated that the lady was not of sound mini, and unfitted for marriage. The vicar aeked him if he had madical testimony to bhe fact, and he replied that he had not had time to get such testimony, but could produce it. The vicar said Mr Binns had three medical corti&^tcs showing the lady was of sound mind, and, said he was afraid the brother's objection wbb invalid. Mr Liebert said Mr Binns had acted in an underhand manner, and this ws jJiis only chance of sa-iiag his siiter from a fearful marriago. Mr Binns had even refused to make a marriage settlement upon her. Tne *icar said he was placed in a veryawkward position. Mr Binns said, he was not going to discuss the question of the settlement with Mr Liebert, and he asked the vicar to proceed with the ceremony. The Vicar : Do you insist on that P Ms Binns : I do, sir, and the lady also insists. The vicar took the lady aside, and also consulted with, a loltoitor, after which ho «aid he was afraid the ceremony must prooeedj and, as both Mr Binna and tho lady inshted upon it, the ceremony was oonoluded. Mr Liebert shed tears on finding that he could not Btop the wedding, and said he had taken every advioe he oould and filed a petition to save hia siater from what be oalled " thia foarful marriage."