SEPARATED AT THE ALTAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6114, 16 December 1898, Page 4

SEPARATED AT THE ALTAR.

STIUNOE STOUY OV A CORNISH MABUIAQE.

At Ponzunco County Court, bofore Judge Granger, a widow namod Anuio Penborthy, suod n telegraphist ou tho Great Wostorn Railway, at Pontypool Road, namod Lamson, for four weeks' maintenance of his wife, Elliol Mabel Lamson, Mrs Penbertliy'B daughter. The parties nccordiug to Mr Rorluse, plaintiff's solicitor, became ougagod during the time Lamson was a lelographist at Peuzanco, In 1896 ho wont to Pontypool Road, Within sixmonths ho and Mfss Penborthy wove married in a clmroli near Pontypool; butns soon ns the register was signed in tho vestry, on tho bride asking hor husband for tlioeustomury kiss, lie refused, and left withontanol her word. From that day llioy lmvo nuvor spoken, Ho took no house, mado no provision for hor, and evor since she

had lived with her mother. Applications wero mado to Lamson and

his solicitor for proper provision, but thoy only brongii I refusal or woro unanswered, liefore tho marriiigo tho girl's brothor wont to Pontypool to see defendant, and n deed was signed, by which the parties agreed to bo married, and then live apart for oight years, tho brother of Miss Penborthy agreeing to imdemnify Lamson against tho cost of maintenance. At the same time fhogirl was not twenty, and tho man was under twonty-oue. Mrs Lamson gavo evidence as to her husband refusing to speak to her in the street when ho was in Penzance ainco tho maniage. In crossexamination she said that before the marriage she threatened to commit suicide. It was agreed that within a month of her attaining tho age of tweuty-ono sbo should execute tho deed, but she had not dono so, and did not intend doing so. Mr Cornish (for tho defendant): And that is tho straightforward way you act towards your husband ? Judge Granger: I don't know about "honourable conduct"; it is a most improper deed to get any woman to sign. On tho face it is void, and could not be enforced in any court in the kingdom. Mr Cornish said that when the engagement was broken off Miss Penberthy threatened to commit suicide, and behaved outrageously. Judgo Granger: He seduced hor ? Mr Cornish: Yes.

Judge Granger. And yotyou think she carried on " outrageously." Mr Cornish replied that Miss Penbertby's brother took up the cudgels thou and said that if his sister committed suicido hers would not be the only death. He cowed the defendant, and in consequence tho deed was drawn up and tho marriage took place. Lamson, tho defendant, was ex-

amined, and said that Mr Penberthy came to him at Pontypool and said that poison had beou found in the house, and that his sister hnd been seen going to the pier to commit suicide. The engagement was remade because he was afraid of bis

lifo being takon. He wrolo to hor as"Yourover-lovingfuturebusbaud,' after tho threats of suicide; ho did not want anyono to commit suicide through him. It was true ho left her after the coremony, and ho did not intend to muko any provision for her. She had sinco insulted him by calling him names on Penzance promenade. Judge Granger: You desorve it, I consider.

His Honor reserved judgment on Iho point of law, butsuid he thought a more despicable ease never came into court. The letter the man wrote after he bad seduced her and promised her marriage was the most heartless ho ever saw, Tho letters wero most pitiful which the girl wroto a man who was hardly worthy of being called a man. If lie could deeido in favour of plnintiif without straining tho law ho should do so, lint he was of opinion the deed was absolutely void and against public policy. He dared not say what he thought of the man.