A FORGOTTEN MARRIAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 9

A FORGOTTEN MARRIAGE

BRIDE’S PECULIAR MEMORY. LIKE A SLEEPWALKER. . --yfrfA wouiaji who srwore that she did not? remember being married, although her eignaLuro of the register was sned in the Divorce Division lvsiore tho I'resident for aimuhnant of that naps’riage on the ground that slie was not t>£-» sound mind ot the time- - s ' She was Emily Shtsw. or Dudley, » Doncaster woman, who married William 1 hid ley at St George's Parish Church, IXuacaster, on November 29, 3016. Dudley petitioned for divorce because of Iter alleged misconduct with James William Shaw, whom she subsequently married, but this issue was ordered to stand over pending tine hearing of the nullity suit* Mr Barnard said the two marriages were performed at tlie same church within two years. The woman, ever since she was a child, had been strange" tu her manner, never quite normal, lift* PJlb she first met Air Dudley, then -» soldier, and they became friendly. Ta letters which he wrote from France TkV proposed marriage, and she always t'C* iused. Once he sent her an engagement ring, which she returned. Within, six months lie sent her another, which ehn kept. Just before October, 191(5, she tbreatened to commit suicide, and later became addicted to drug-tnlting. (-onung to the critical period in the rn r e November 29. 1916—Air Barnard said that Dudley called quite early In tho morning, when the woman and Irrr brother were at breakfast. That morning, at eight o'clock, according to Mir Dudley, tho marriage took place, and ilipi woman’s story was tluat she had no recollection of it at all- The register, was signed by both of them. 1 be second marriage, with Shaw, wu on August 28. 1918. Joseph Alarsden, parish clerk and verger, questioiied as to the demeanour of the bride at the first wedding, said sue was very much as brides usually a,o. She shed a tear or two during the ceremony, which wae not unusual. Emily Shaw (she was called in that name) said she had no recollection of the marriage with Air Dueller. A£te« her marriage with Shaw she told Dud nan Ie ,narr * Shaw in her maiden Ihe President : Do you swear yotf dnlr. t. go to the church Y —Yes. I sweat. 1 did not realise it. sir. Counsel: A\ in you Took that boo's :tho marriage register). Isn't tha* •' our signature, Emily Whittles?—Yes,,. Airs Gertrude Alary Foulger, a said that Airs Shaw, or Dudley, suffered t rmn hallucinations, and ought to ho. certified insane. A', hen she married’ Shaw elro dul not understand the duties'. <n married life, and does not. to-day. Sfie Jins threatened suicide for twenty, years at least once a week. Dr Harold Ferdinand Kenton, of Hon caster, said he formed the opinion in October, that the woman wa r suicidal, and lie thought shte must. "be. as a lunatic. Tier condition was sue!) that she was pcrmanentlv oT iecble mind. li was consistent that she could go *o tl.i.a church in the tnoriilng, g*> through a ceremony of .marriage, sign. * her name in tho register and go awjiv and know nothing a.t all about it. was- probably in a state of automatism. here would lie a mental process, but no mental control. ...... a *, khe migkt/roll have had an acute a»tack of mania and gone to the church like n sleep-walker and known nothing about -it. 7t was possible that the sub conscious mind might have enabled , fier. when m a condition of automatism. - to go through the marriage tu, emofer n,,f l to con verso with the clergyman. Tfc ' r * ls possible tor her to live outwardly-a normal life. but. nevertheless, to lir© an artificial life Afr TTiHiam Dudley * a id that, when ho told ho,- that tlio woddiug B-onJd ' H,co place m the morning site said./* Ah.. i igin- Ho had noticed nothing peon* liar about her. r n After the wedding she said she. wag omto happy, and alien he came homef*n leave she was quite normal, aud.., knew they were married. The President decided that the marriago should be annulled.