CAPTAIN CRUTCHLEY'S DOUBLE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1182, 23 September 1885, Page 4

CAPTAIN CRUTCHLEY'S DOUBLE.

Some sensation was caused in Anglocolonial city circles the other morning by a rumor to the effect that Captain Crutchley, of the R.M.S.S. Kaikoura, had been arreated on a charge of bigamy. Thia pretty tale had hardly time to get abuut before some person, saner than his fellows, suddenly remembered that Captain Crutchley was on board his vessel halfway out to New Zealand, and consequently could scarcely bo in London undergoing a trial for bigamy. The story was then investigated, and found to be aa follows : — On Thursday last John Malcolm, a salesman's cashier at the Central Moat Market, was charged on remand with having married Emma Dash at Brighton, his former wife being now alive. Miss Dash deposed to meeting the prisoner at Brighton. He said he was captain of the New Zealand liner Kaikoura, and as her friends found there was such a vessel, she believed him. After a five days' acquaintance, Miss Dash and the gallant captain were married at Brighton, and went to Chichester for a few days' honeymoon. The bridegroom then rejoined his ship and was on the point of sailing for New Zealand. One day at the beginning of the present month an intimate friend of Miss Dash, who had assisted at her wedding, went to an annual fete known as the "Butcher's Garden Party." There, lo and behold ! he spotted! the recreant bridegroom, fondly supposed by his doting spouse to be speeding towards the Antipodes. The wretch was recognised, but protested there was some mistake, as he could provp he waa selling frozen mutton at the Central Meat Market at the very hour Miss D. was being married at Brighton. Miss D., however, when confronted with Malcolm, cried " Thou art the man," and swooned away. Subsequently, Mesdames Malcolm one and two met in the corridor of the Court and indulged in a feminine fight — hair, pearl powder, eyebrows, and fingernails flying about in all directions. Malcolm will in all probability be committed for trial. — "Star" London correspondent.