SHE WAS HIS BRIDE OF ONE DAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1178, 28 June 1928, Page 9

SHE WAS HIS BRIDE OF ONE DAY

Surely Her Husband Could Claim Title of World's Most Amazing Correspondent! dramatic arrest on Return from new york (From "N.Z. Truth's" Palmerston North Representative.) . A loving husband might be expected to resort to novelty m epistolary efforts, especially) when corresponding with his little bride of one day's bliss. But it.will be for a jury to interpret the motive of Norman Ernest Stanley m penning the weird effusions which he claims were inspired by a bleeding heart.

— : . : : € QTANXiBY has been married nearly >3 four years, although, m the sense, of matrimonial propinquity, he and his wife have been together very little. As a. matter of fact, after being married one day, the wife returned to the inoulcation of academic wisdom into the young, idea m the .Manawatu, whilst her husband ostensibly went to his farm at Kaipara (where Prime Ministers come from). The links m this chain of narrative were welded m the magisterial forgo at Palmerston North last week, when Stanley was brought before justices of the peace m connection with a letter he had written. The oharge preferred was that on December 5, 1927, he caused to be received by one James Petrie Innes, a letter, knowing the contents thereof to contain a threat to kill his wife. Lawyer J. P. Innes, told the court that he had acted for Mrs. Stanley m drawing up a deed of separation between accused and his wife on February 25. 1927! On December 5 last, he had received a letter from Stanley, dated at New York, November 1, 1927. • In that letter accused made a threat to shoot his wife apd exterminate the family. "I handed the letter to the police," concluded witness. ... ' A Weird Missive David James Lattimore, postal supervisor, of Palmerston North, produced a letter and en velope., addressed to "Murky Maisie Mudford, alias Ivy May Stanley, Foxton Famous -=- — , The ' School, Poxton, N.Z." The postmark showed that it had been posted m New York on November 2, 1927. ■ As it was objectionably addressed, the epistle was opened by the department. It was then discovered that it contained threats to kill the addressee. A number of other letters objectionably addressed had , been received through the Post Office and were delivered to Mrs. Stanley on foer instructions. Ivy May Stanley, the unwilling recipient of many of her husband's billets-doux, stepped into the box to relate that m spite of all she could do, she was still the wife of accused. She was married to him at St. Andrew's Church, Palmerston North, on October li 1924, but had only lived with him for one day. He left, indicating that he was going to his farm at Kaipara, incidentally borrowing £5 from her before his departure. A little over a week later he wanted £500. Detective Quirke, who prosecuted, then produced for witness' inspection a number of letters which she said she had received from accused. Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilillllll^

3 — — . : _ — © — : -. -■ < In one was a threat: "I'll do for the thing about a letter I received from whole lot of you;" m another, a further , a dirty mongrel In Foxton?" threat: "I'll hurry you to the grave." The Bench: "How do you expect _. '. ■• v her to know anything about that?" , of^stm^r^^u^^nrTr^ Stanley attempt tc ; ar f « > with the accused, most of them objection- bench and was promptly told that the able and threatening. court was not a debating society. Detective Russell reported his inter - The general tone of the correspond- view with Accused, who had been ence from the time she married him shown the 'letters and had admitted until the 1 present was threatening:. ' having penned them. They came from different parts of Stanley had said he desired to exthe world and now that her husband plain that the threats were not eerihad returned to New Zealand, she was ously meant. He had no Intention of afraid of what he might do. putting them into effect and never He had threatened that if she did would. not make it up with him he 1 would do The letters were written by him certain thing-s. , ■ while In a foolish He had asked her and despondent •to pay their" fares T 9 *y mood, brought on to Australia, but \fntllpil <? Stfltil by deep affection this she declined to UlUTilCy O KJLUiy for hls wIfG , w ho do, although he of- had continually refered Jo provide for ~~ polled all attempts her when, she had crossed the Tasman. to make, things up between them. "I asked for proof that there was Tne separation agreement was property m Australia," added witness, mutually arranged,, but m the course "but never got it. I never received of a telephonic conversation the day anything that I consider proof that ac- after the document was signed, she cused had property. had said she intended to apply for "Before accused married me he told maintenance and had added: "I have me that he had a farm at Kaipara, but not done with you yet." S, te n,,f enied "• when . he *"* me a Stanley continued m his statecheque, payment was stopped." - "I have written several ■s:mm%mimM He had made an offer that she so • t«S U ifiA h th lf tl V G Cl '°?i bu * " 1 "«V irleß "On arriving m New Zealand on ■sS,2i™ information that it was June 2 1928 i j made lt my business to valueless. let people m Foxton know that T had Stanley: "Do you know any- arrived back m New Zealand and on

Sunday, June 8, set out for Foxton inrith the full purpose m my heart of ipologizing to those whom I had offended; to meet my wife with a view :o seeing: if there was not yet a chance jf us coming together and making a lew start m life. . "I arrived m Foxtori about 7 o'clock n the evening, having given instruc:ions to the service-oar driver to drop ne at the first road to the left past the school. "When our car arrived at Foxton, lowever, the driver stopped near the Presbyterian Church arid backed down :o a cafe. "While he was doing this, I noticed Constable Owen and his mate walking towards us. I immediately decided :hat there was something afoot and :hat they were looking for me. "I remembered the many letters I md written, and, realizing -that to be interrupted m my mission at this period would be detrimental to my in:ereßt regarding a reconciliation with ny wife, I decided to sit still m the jar and keep out of sight until such :ime as I had Been my wife and the )thers to whom I wished to apologize. "On leaving the car, I ' set out to ivalk to Taikorea Road, the home of ny wife's parents. '■/■■..■ "I visited the house, but as I had -eason to fear an attack, by her broExpressed Regret _± . ' ■ '; : ■ .',,'••■,;- --: her, I deemed it wise to wait until i had seen whp was knocking about 3efore showing myself. ■.'•'. "I eventually saw Mr. Mudford, ;enr., to whom I expressed my sincere •egret, for the letters I had sent liihi. "I then asked him if he would acjept my apology, which he did. We :hen shook hands and I headed for Palmerston North on foot. "Later, I returned to Wellington and lave been on the Ruahine until my irrest on June 12. ' "I can only again express rriy ; regret for having written this foolish class of letter and would like to give my assurance that nothing was really meant by anything 1 have said m any of the.* letters. . • ■■>■''.'. "The' only explanation I can give for laving written this class of letter is that my affection for my wife is still fery deep. -^ . . ' "I am still prepared to try. and make matters up and commence again wherever she likes. . ' . ', . "I earnestly desire to prove that I a.m other than my letters suggest.*' ! : ; 1 The bench thought accused had a charge to answer and committed him to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being refused. * . Stanley was described as a steward and was arrested at. liyjttelton on June 12. ■:>■.■■_..-.•.■ .-: