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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 14, 15 January 1876, Page 4

Recent Australian telegrams reported that a Registrar had got into into .trouble for informally' marrying a couple. The particulars are given as follows in the Australasian : — " A maintenance case, presenting some unusual circumstances, was heard at the East Collingwood Police Court, on Tuesday, before Mr. Templeton, P.M.* and a bench of magistrates. Theresa Staughton, otherwise Boss, Bued one David Ross, landlord of the Sir Robert Peel Hotel,, corner of Wellington and Peel* streets, for maintenance. Her story is a romantic one. It appears shat she was engaged, a few weeks ago, as barmaid in the defendant's hotel, and he became so enamoured of her that he desired a closer relationship. She having already bad experience of the pleasures and painßof the married state, stoutly declined his offer-— but he was not to be denied, and she at length was induced to consent to marry bina. Ross at once sent out to find a clergyman to perform the ceremony, but returned soon after, saying he could not get a clergyman, but that the Registrar would do as well. The registrar, accordingly, was brought down to the house, and the marriage solemnised without farther delay. All the formalities required by the law were dispensed with on the occasion. The married life of this couple though a short one, was not a merry one. Within a day or two the husband wearied of his spouse, felt conscientious scruples regarding, the legality of the marriage, and finally, following the illustrious example of Henry VIII,,

tamed his wife away. : ' She appealed to the law for protection. The Bench, whilst severely reprobating the conduct of Boss anJ the grbis careiesßneas shown by the Registrar, Mr Daly, considered that in View of;-the doubt thrown on the validity of the marriage by the informalities which had occurred, no order could be made by that court for maintenance.- The attention of the Registrar-General will be .directed to the conduct of his, subordinate, whose, only excuse for performing the ceremony under each circumstances appeared to be that he had been talked into it.