CHAMPION BIGAMIST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20001, 17 July 1920, Page 12

CHAMPION BIGAMIST.

MADE A “PROFESSION” OF MARRYING MEN. CHARM, NOT BEAUTY, WON MANY HEARTS. io \ inlet Lyle, who is but tinny-foui 'ears ol age, and who is a native o. IXiuno, Perthshire, the police believe belongs the title of champion bigamist At any rate, no living woman i known who can claim to have gom through the marriage ceremony si. often. Police information shows that imo has been “married” seven times, and they suspect that this docs not represent anything like the total number of her matrimonial exploits, attempted or accomplished. vShe has now been deprived of opportunity of breaking more men’s hearts for three years by a sentence of penal servitude for that period at Manchester on a charge of theft. In the dock the “ professional bigamist’’—she is thus described in ’ the police records—was quite unconcerned when her life story, as known to the police, was related. She smiled a little whop she was described as the greatest bigamist the polioo witness had met. She gave a shrug of the shoulders when sentence was passed upon her, and her only regret probably was that for a few years she would not bo able to resume operations. \ iolet would not be .indignant if she know she was described as not being of a very prepossessing appearance! Certainly she could not lay claim to personal beauty, but there wore times when she displayed a very charmmg manner. Violets hrst “love affair’’ came to her early in life. Born at Donne, Perthshire, she was only sixteen when she married in Renfrewshire in 1901. A child was horn of this marriage, but she left her husband soon after,' and lived for a. wnile with another man. Official records show that she renewed acquaintance with marriage ceremonies in 1903 at Glasgow, and on two later occasions Glasgow men were duped. Her last recorded matrimonial exploit took place in Armagh, where an Irishman fell a victim to her “winning ways.” ” Her Manchester "husband” can tell an amusing story of Violet’s convincing ways. To him she was the daughter of a well-known Glasgow divine, and was heiress to an estate valued at £IO,OOO. The clay of full inherita nco was at hand, and it was necessary that she should go to Kilmaipioek to settle everything with the family solicitors. The, marriage ceremony was hastened, and duly took place! It was also necessary that_someone should accompany her to Kilmarnock in order to sec the legal formalities completed. Of the £ 0),000 the new husband was to have a big share. The host man nt the wedding was also made aware of the good news, and in order that Violet should be able to enter into her own. and to meet the initial expenses, tho best man performed his duties pnv perly and lent her £7O. Fie also accepted the pressing invitation to accompany husband and wife to Kiiraarnock. The party duly arrived at that town, and obtained good accommodation. The following morning certain gold studs were missing. This delayed the two men in completing their toilet, and they were rather late clown to breakfast. Violet was anxiously waiting, and when her husband appeared, remarked, “Yon are rather late, dearie.” He informed her of tho missing studs, and she then said she would make a few purchases at a -hop round the corner. She vent round the corner, and was not seen again by the two men for nearly a couple of years. Eighteen months’ imprisonment for fraud at Ayr followed. Site was then rearrosted and brought to Manchester on a charge of bigamy. The best man and 11 bridegroom ” then told their tale. To tim art of breaking hearts, Violet added efforts to break up homes. The police records show her aa a dome.-.tic servant in many places. In two eases she interfered considerable

with the domestic bliss of her employers. After holding situations for some weeks she complained to her mistresses that the heads of each household had made overtures to her.—“Lloyd’s News.” i ■ > ; j | • i | | 1 j