MAN WRONGLY ACCUSED.

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 27, 2 February 1937, Page 9

MAN WRONGLY ACCUSED.

SAVED BY EVIDENCE OP GIRL WHO ISSUED SUMMONS. When a young girl went Into the ."witness-box at Wealdstone, Middlesex, reoently, she looked in astonishment at a man on whom her summons had been served—and declared that not only was he not the father of her ohlld but also that he was a oomplete stranger to her. “He Is certainly not the man I hoped ■would be here,” said Miss Margaret Mercer, who gave an address at Pinner. The man in Court, Edwin Robert James, aged 25, a London railway guard, of Churoh Lane, Willesden, was told by the magistrates that he would leave the court without the slightest reflection. Something of how this extraordinary situation arose was told by Mr James as he sat with his wife, aged 23, before the fire at their home. “Dare Not Tell Her” “There Is not a man in the world who could be more relieved than I am,” he said. “I have been married lor two years. There has never been any other wpman for me apart from my wife. “And then—like a bolt from the blue —this oloud desoended on us. A fortnight ago a warrant officer came to the door and told me I should have to answer this charge—about a woman of whom I had never heard. “I was flabbergasted. I dare not tell my wife at first. I said that it was Just a tradesman. And then I told my father and my father-in-law. “Of course, we had in the end to break the news to my wife and ...” Mrs James, a pretty brunette, interrupted with: “I never doubted him for a moment. But I think it is a terrible thing that a jpan, even if his name is cleared, should have to appear in court in such circumstances.” “I cannot feel any resentment against Miss Mercer.” added Mr James. “It was obviously not her fault.” In court, Mr C. E. flay Reckitt, who appeared for Miss Mercer, said that the original summons was made out against a man named Edwin or Edward Jame*. of New Cross, S.E., who was a railway guard. Dismissing the summons, the chairman said the Court Intended to get to the bottom of the mystery because of the suffering and hardship which had been inflicted on Mr James.