FRIENDSHIP AND KISSES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7924, 1 February 1904, Page 2

FRIENDSHIP AND KISSES.

• • THE SCHOOLGIRL'S ELOPE^ MENT. Mr Justice Bucknill and a common jury heard recently the case of Taylor v. Taylor and Boswell. The petition was that of Mr Charles Taylor, a. veterinary surgeon, of Nottingham, for a divorce by reason of the alleged misconduct of his wife, with. Mr Charles Boswell, son of a horse dealer at Nottingham. The respondent was called, and stated that when she was about* eighteen it was proposed that she should go to a finishing school mi London, but, instead of going to the school, she went away with the petitioner, and they- were married in. London. Has your husband, ever seen Mr Boswell kiss you? Yes. ; Has he ever made any objection? No. Her hus,band had known. Mr Boswell since he was a boy.. When, she was first introduced to Mr Boswell he was a young man jof nineteen. She had written, "Other men i have forgiven their wives, why oanmot you?" She had never said that she would not defend the suit. She had written to him, entreating him to avoid divorce pror ceedings and expressed her willingness to ' ajgn a deed of 'separation, adding th|t she hoped one day to convince him that she 1 had never disgraced herself "in. the way ' you suggest in those dreadful prooeed--1 ings," Questioned further as to the letters she had written, to him, in one was the passage, ! "" I have only been a fool, and not a wicked , woman, and what evidence you have -is a tissue of lies." Is it the one wish of your life to go back ,■ to your husband? Yes., Mr Charles Boswell deposed that he was , in his twentieth year. He made the ac-> , quairotance of the respondent in 1900, being , introduced to her by Mr Taylor. His father, who was a horse dealer, kept a ridingschool, and on occasions Mrs Taylor used to come there find 1 ride. Two years ago he i lent her a horse for hunting. -. • Counsel : Mr Taylor, in his evidence, said ho once said to you, ''Why don't you - leave my wife alone?" Witness: No, he. said ; " Look here, Charlie I won't have you making a fool of my wife." I gave him my word of honour I was not making . a fool of his wife. He -had never been in the stables alone with her. On one of the dates on which it was alleged he was there he was at Cheltenham. Have you had your arm round Mrs Taylor? Never in my Jife. la it a fact that you had been to Mrs Taylor's house? Yes, very often. On one occasion I dined with her. The witness gave an emphatic denial to the allegation made against him by the 1 detective. 1 In cross-examination he said' that he was fond of Mrs Taylor "in a (friendly way." ; Ido not understand "in a friendly way." Are you very fond of her? lam very fond of her. Have you any real affection for her? I would do anything for her. Why did you walk out with her? I sup. , pose I wanted to. i . When did you kiss her? A good' while ago. . '' When did you first put your arm round her? I never had my arm round her. When the lady was asked this question 1 she did not remember. Your memory is better than hers? My (memory is good. i enough to say that I never put my aim : round her. I may have put my hand on • her shoulder. . / • Answering further questions, the witness said that when he called o:i Mrs Taylor the hour was usually threj o'clock in the afternoon. He could giv# no reason, because at that hour Mr Taylor would be away , from home. She had sent him telegrams, one of which ran: "All right. Here at three." He admitted that once when she was ill he went up to her bedroom. He did not say. that all his visits to the house were with- the knowledge and approval of Mr Taylor, or that he knevr he wag there so often. In re-examination he said that he left Nottingham owing to this disturbance, and 1 went to Cheltenham. While he was there 1 he rode. He looked on Mrs Tprylor as a ! friend), and went about a great deal- with her. He had kissed her. Mr Justice Bucknill : Surely you do not > kiss' all your lady friends? Witness: Well, sip, if they are very great friends, Mr Justice Bucknill : IDo you extend that compliment to all the ladies you know? Witness: If they are ladies I know (a* pause) — if I can. (Laughter), At this stage of the proceedings the foreman of the jury intimated that they would lijje to -confer together for a few minutes, and his lordship said they had better retire. After their return into Court a discussion arose, and eventually counsel engaged in the case saw 'his lordship in his private room. A SERVANT'S LETTER. Mrs Mary Smith who had been in the employment of Mr 1 and Mrs Taylqr, said she wrote a letter to Mr Taylor on August 24.. It contained the following passages : — "I hope you won't mind this liberty which I am.about to take in sending this letter.. It is an appeal from my heart to your heart for dear Mrs Ipa (Mrs Taylor). It is heartbreaking to see and hear her longing. for you. She wishes she might die. ; She loves' you so faithfully that she would sooner die than live without you. If you try to divorce her she would never maray. I dare say on my solemn oath she has never done anything wrong with that young fellow. - • . ' Think of her feelings at ' being thrown out of house and home and the most sacred ties broken, 6it down and have a long, splendid thought. Then get up and turn your heart towards her. Takeher once more to your breast. She ia your little treasure, for which you would Ibe rewarded tenfold." Hi? Lordship (to witness) : That letter, if you will allow me to say so, does; you the ! highest credit. At the close of the evidence the claim for damages was withdrawn. His lordship granted the husband a decree i nisi, with costs and custody of th© child. , He added that he Ibad 1 observed with the i greatest pain that the public gallery had nevefl been empty of two or three women— ■he would not call them ladies— listening tp the details day after day. which had been laid before the Court- He thought it was a great pity that such things were allowed.