AFTER TWENTY YEARS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8333, 3 June 1905, Page 4

AFTER TWENTY YEARS.

GRIM CLIMAX TO A LIFE'S .SECRET. <■ A remarkable story was recounted at Brentford Police Court on Saturday, April 8, when Thomas Simmonds, fortyone, who gave an address at a Rowton lodging-house, was charged with running away from the parish of Ealing in December, 1904, whereby his wife became chargeable to the guardians of the Brentford Union. Mr Stephens, who prosecuted, said that the prisoner had raised the defence that he was not legally married to the woman, and therefore was not responsible for her support. His statement was shown by inquiries to be perfectly true, and no further evidence would be offered against him. But, to satisfy the magistrates that the guardians were justified in bringing this prosecution, he (Mr Stephens) desired to unfold a singular story. Simmonds, he said, . was of good family, and twenty years ago the banns of a proposed marriage between a wellconnected, pretty young girl and himself were published at a Hammersmith church. Simmonds did not go to the church on the day fixed for the wedding, and no subsequent marriage ceremony took place. A sad featxire of the case was that their eldest girl had been recently married, and before tho ceremony the woman begged to be released from an oath Simmonds had made her take, and to bo allowed to inform her daughter's future husband of the true state of affairs, but her request was refused, and the prisoner threatened to kill her if she broke her oath. After he left her she had to go into the union, and she was now lying in the infirmary at the point of death. The presiding magistrate said the guardians were quite justified in bringing the prosecution, but in the circumstances the Bench had no alternative but to discharge the prisoner.