RECORD IN LOVE-LETTERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12246, 21 June 1909, Page 3

RECORD IN LOVE-LETTERS.

DOCTOR WHO WROTE TWO OR THREE EACH DAY.

AMUSING EXTRACTS

All love-letter records have been broken by Dr. Hubert Karl Dornhurst, medical officer at the Cottage Hospital, Aberdare, who was ordered a few weeks ago at the Middlesex Sheriff's Court, Westminster, to pay £300 damages for breaking his promise to marry Miss Mary Annie Morgan, a variety actress. " The correspondence is probably the most voluminous that has ever passed between any two lovers in the word," said Mr. Doughty, who appeared for Miss Morgan, as he produced three heavy portmanteaux crammed with letters written by Dr. Dornhurst. "They were'on affectionate terms for four years, and Dr. Dornhurst wrove regularly to Miss Morgan two or thr39 times a day. In the intervals of letter | writing he sent telegrams. ; "Dr. Dornhurst's father holds a l'ifth position in Ceylon," he continued, '• snd \ Miss Morgan is one of the Sisters l>'crgan. Her people are widely kmn/.i in ■ Cardiff. "The two met in Aberdeen, ami h\o months later Dr. Dornhurst irnf-ic-ed marriage. Miss Morgan was very .vein,;, and would not accept him. REGULAR BOUQUETS. " Afterwards Mi^s Morgan appeared jn a pantomime in Cardiff, and Dr. Dornhurst journeyed from Aberdeen to see her. He gave her many handsome presents, and presented a bouquet to l>er and her sister every night. " Then this voluminous correspondence began, and at Dr. Dornhurst's request Miss Morgan used to take his letters from place to place with her. "Dr. Dornhurst proposed again in Dundee early in 1903, and although ]\'iss Morgan would not definitely accept lim sho accepted a ring. In July of ihr-t year they became engaged, and from that time Dr. Dornhurst's letters became even more numerous. "Miss Morgan went to South Africa in 1906 to fulfil an engagement, and she returned in April 1907. They were -on affectionate terms for some time, but later Dr. Dornhurst wrote the most callous and brutal letter a man could write to a girl. Without warning he, wrote: — This is; a mock hypocrisy of love, and I don't want to have anything more to do with you. - • "And," Mr. Doughty added in indignant tones, "he stated that he had no money.". When Miss Morgan—a tall, pretty brunette, wearing a. blue costume with" a large-hat and veil —entered'the witnessbox, wedding bells began to ring from the neighbouring church of St. Margaret's, Westminster. They continued while she gave evidence, and almost drowned her words at times.She admitted, with a blush, that Dr. Dornhurst's letters to her began, "My very,own fond darling sweetheart." "When"l went to-South Africa he began to send his:letters by registered post, "she stated. "He wrote that although the mail did not go until Friday he would write on Wednesdays, so that his letters would be in good time." BILLOWS AND PILLOWS. There was keen expectation in court when counsel dived into the pile of loveletters. Loud and unfeeling laughter succeeded the silence as the following extracts were read: — !■ Although it is only a few days ago I since I lield you in my arms and implanted my. kisses on those pretty ruby lips of yours, it seems to me like ages since I last saw you. Oh, Annie darl,ing, it makes me feel so sad, even at this moment, to recall our parting day. I hope you will return to me soon, for I do miss you, sweetheart mine, very, very much. When that horrible bell rang to signal your'departure last Saturday at Waterloo Station I felt as though I would choke with grief. It was too terrible to have to part with you, Annie darling, for I do love you with all my heart and soul. I did all I could to keep up my spirits when that horrible train or yours left the platform, but it was no use, sweetheart mine, for the tears came gushing into my eyes in volumes after your departure. , Oh, Annie darling, I feel as though I could write of nothing else but my devoted love for you, for my heart and soul belong wholly to you. What happiness could a man~wish for more than to be loved by such a true and admirable girl as you"? There is no getting away from the fact that I idolise and worship you, Babsy darling. 1 could not sleep at night for thinking of my sweet darling girl out on the roling billows on such a rough night. I hope you were not much affected by the wind, darling. I lay with my head on the pillow thinking of you, Annie darling, and how far you were out at sea. Another letter ran: — I have, had many opportunities of kissing girls under the mistletoe, but I love you so much, darling, that I feel I could never kiss any other girl in my life. I could easily withstand the onslaught of nattering women's tongues should the occasion offer itself. -■ FLUCTUATING AFFECTION.

On February 17, 1903, Dr. Dornhurst wrote: —

My .trip to Birmingham was taken simply to do a duty that I owed to you as my fiancee. I have no doubt you have clearly seen for some time past that my feelings, towards you have been very fluctuating, and 1 wish to confess to you openly that I could never be the same to you again, for the love that I had for you in the past has died away. 'Twould be far better for both of us that, if the worst is to come, it comes now. Oh, how I sometimes wish that I was not the son of such honourable parents. For the last three weeks I have not been able to concentrate my mind on anything, and night after night I lie on my pillow thinking what an awful muddle I have made of my young life. Before I met you I was a happy and contented man, but you came into my life with all your beauty and set my heart aglow with a passion which I found very difficult to overcome at the time. Like the hot-headed fool that I was at the time, and having nobody to give me good advice, I made up my mind to follow you and have you for my own at any cost. It was not love that made me pursue you at that time everywhere, my dear child, but mad infatuation and conceit to win you from the hands of

other men

"I have never seen him since I received that letter," Miss Morgan declared. The case had been remitted from the High Court merely for the assessment of damages, and the jury fixed the sum at £300.