MARS AND VENUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5460, 11 January 1896, Page 6

MARS AND VENUS.

The conjunction of the planets of love and war is of frequent occurrence, in the metaphorical sense ; and the soft goddess is more potent in nerving the soldier's heart and arm than is the warlike god. There has seldom, if ever, been a more shameful and degrading association of Mars and Venus than was brought to light in the London Central Criminal Court a few weeks ago. The incident is also remarkable as showing the value of the Victoria Cross decoration, even to one convicted of the grossest crimes and immoralities. In the case referred to, Edward James Collis, described as a "Victoria Cross hero," was charged with bigamy. The prisoner, who presented himself dirty and unkempt, was stated to have been formerly in the Royal Artillery, and to have served in Afghanistan, where, for conspicuous gallantry in the field, he was awarded the Victoria' Cross. Subsequently he entered the Bombay police, when he met and married a widow with whom he lived for some time. Leaving her, he came to England, where, according to the police, he at once embarked on a heartless course of immorality. He first met a girl of respectable ■!^parents , : in; ,',,ss. East, .'End, of London, whom he seduced 'under a promise of marriage. The girl's father, on finding it out, disowned her, and the prisoner shortly afterwards deserted her.- He next inetayoungwomannamedMary Jones, whoni he induced to live with him, promising, she said, that he would marry her. He told her that he had a wife in India, but he said his marriage there was illegal. She lived with him until his great cruelty towards her drove her to leave him, and she sought a situation. A few , months after this prisoner made the acquaintance of Mary Goddard, who was a cook in respectable service, and stating that he was a single man, went through^ the- ceremony of marriage with her. He af terwaree commenced a course of ill-usage towards her, and wound up by casting her destittite into the street, telling her to clear out as, he had another girl to take her place. Since turning her out he had got hold of another ■ respectable young woman with whom he lived for three months, and had then turned her into the street.- Since then he had been posing as a single man,, and at the time lie was. given into custody, by. Goddard was in therdompany'of "£/ young! girl twenty years of age, whom he .had* promised to marry in a fortnight. Sergeant Small, who stated these facts to the Court, said that for the last eight years the prisoner had been living a life of immorality, and he had lived for years upon the fact that he had the Victoria Cross. The Common Sergeant (Sir Forrest Fulton, Q.C.), in sentencing the accused to eighteen months' hard labour, advanced a curious reason for this leniency. . He said he should have sent prisoner to penal servitude but for the fact that he held the Victoria Cross ; but he thought if a man held that honoured badge it ought never to be forgotten. This is a curious and almost barbaric doctrine. According to this, any man who has shown, it may be, reckless disregard of danger in battle, and has been personally decorated by his sovereign, is entitled to a certain immunity from the- laws of his country. Such a doc-trine-is, wo need hardly say, a dangerous and iniinoral one,' aridan encouragement -to. scoundrelism of the worst' type in men who ought not to ]j3 tempted to deflect from the paths of duty and honour. -% * .