MARRIAGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4332, 6 February 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

MARRIAGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

The Birmingham papers report that the Wednesbury palish church has heeu the scone of a wedding, solemnised—if there could -bo any solemnity in such a display of excited feeling as took place—under circumstances of a very exceptional character, and painful to all concerned. The bridal paid were Mr. Adam Smith, described as a chemist, of Great Hamp-ton-street, Birmingham, and Miss 35mmn Pritchard, daughter of Mr. Thomas Pritchard, tube-maker, Wednesbury. Long before the hour fixed for the ceremony immense crowds of people began to assemble, and immediately upon the opening of the doors of church was thronged with spectators, it being computed that at least 2000 persons were within the building, in addition to perhaps as many more outside. On the arrival of the wedding 1 party the bridegroom was received with bootings and other strong manifestations of popular indignation, excited as it soon appeared, by. the report that ho had played the part of a false and, fickle lover under very aggravated circumstances, Before the ceremony commenced a conveyance and pair drove up from Birmingham containing two ladies and two gentlemen, and the distressed appearance and passionate grief of one of the former at once pointed her out to the crowd as the discarded oue. The church door had been closed against her and her friends, but, taking advantage of its being re-openod to admit one of the officials, they obtained admission. A few judicious words from the clerk (Mr. Parkes) as to the serious consequences of “brawling” in church subdued their excitement and restrained their indignation somewhat; but as the ceremony went on the principal of the two ladies passionately declared, her tears flowing freely all the time, that she for years had been to the man who stood at the altar as a wife. A raurraer of sympathy ran through tile auditory, and seemed about to hurst into an angry shout, when again the clerk interposed and comparative quiet was restored. With such an accompaniment os tin’s, and others of a like character, it may bo imagined that the wedding ceremony was a trying ordeal botli to the hrido and ‘bridgroom, especially their former. On the party leaving the church, a tremendous outburst of groaning and discordant noises took place, and not a few of those assembled 'showed a disposition to mob the bridegroom, but with some little difficulty ho and his newly-made wife and their attendants got away without any serious harm.