MARRIED IN A CAB.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17241, 20 March 1918, Page 3

MARRIED IN A CAB.

GIRL'S SCOTTTSH WEDDING TO A

BARONET.

The story of the romantic Scots marriago of a"Mr. Smith," who was really Sir William1 Bowyer Smijth, Bt., a. descendant of Sir Roger de Clarendon (a natural son of the Black Prince) and member of Parliament for South Essex from 1852 to 1857, was told in the course of a case in the Edinburgh Courtof Session, when William Baird Bowj-er Smijth, of Melbourne, and six others sought a declaration ef legitimacy in an action against Lady Eliza I echnie Malcolm or Bowyer Smijth, and two others.

In 1855 Sir William was fishing at Blair Atholl, in Perthshire, when he met Eliza Fechnie Malcolm, -en thirteen years of age. She knew him as Mr. William Smith. Three y<?ai» later she went to London with her brother, wwo had set out to seek his fortune, and some time later she accidentally met "Mr. Smith." He represented that he was unmarried; he became deeply attached to her, and she reciprocated his affection. In July he proposed marriage, and although only ; little over sixteen, she accepted him. Miss Fechnie Malcolm then went to stay with her aunt in Leith, and later '•Mr. Smith" was invited to come to Leith to make the aunt's acquaintance. On the afternoon of his arrival h? and his sweetheart went for a driva m a cab, and in the course of the drive he produced a ring, put it n the third finger of her left hand, said "With this ring I thee wed," and added : " You are now my lawful wedded wife."

The young bride believed that she was legally married, and after a honeymoon in London they travelled on Llio Cojitinent and lived in Paris until 1870, when they returned to England, and stayed at Cheltenham.

Twelve children, one of whom is dead, were born, and were registered or baptised as legitimate. It was in 1859 that "Mrs. Smith" first learned that her husband was a baronet, and he tnen [ told her he was a widower with three children. She believed him, and it was not nntil 1573 that she learned that .Lady Marianne Francos Meux, whom I Sir William had married in 1839, was still alive. Lady Marianne died in MWh. 1875, and eight days later Sir married the mother of his twelve, children. The other children w^cre born afterwards. After Sir AVilliam's death in 1883. his widow married a lieutenant in the army, from whom she has been separated for some time.

In the present, proceeding..; thr» ehildron born beforel 1575 seok to Have their legitimacy declarpd. accordinpr to the low of Scotland. Tlip notion is defended by the two daughters born subsequent to 1875, who say that the Scottish Court has no jurisdiction.