WHY THE BRIDE FAINTED.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 223, 3 November 1916, Page 8 (Supplement)

WHY THE BRIDE FAINTED.

BEST MAN WHO Mi The story of a really lively we Id ng breakfast, when the best man assaulted tho bridegroom—who is also his uncle and the sixty-year-old bride tainted, was told at length in Kingston Police Court, London, recently, flenj unii. Smith, the bridesgrooni, who is sixty-two, sumoned his oest man, \V:Iliani Jefferey, for assault, and there wer also cross-summonses against tho bridesgrooni and one of the guests. Tlie happy couple -who were widow and widower—were married at Kingston Registry Office on August 1. Jefferey was the bout man—in fact, according to the bridegroom, he was "the lust man all round that day Alter the uoreniony there "as a wedding at tho bridegroom s house. 'I hero was plenty to eat, and plenty to drink, and everything was jolly—until the best man, after the least, suddenly rose from his seat and

•"went raving mad, hitting about in all directions." The uridegroom promptly knocked him down and sat on him, but was pulled off by one of the gi.esta. Possibly the guests felt that it was time then for the party to nreak up, becaus.*, according to the br degrooni, although "there was a tidy few at tirst, Liter there was only myself, the best num. ami one or two others.'' It must have been about this time that the bride tainted, out latere she told her story of her happy wedding-day, Alfrxl Kelting, who explained tint ha was v "not one of the invited guests, but

came in afterwards,"' l>ore out the bndogroom's story of the be»t man's bad behaviour.

JMOWX STUDY AND BEER. •• I was -itting in a ehair in a brown study,' he began, when the Mayor, one of the magistrates, interrupted him to ask : '• Was that after the brown beer!'' Kelting admitted that it was, anl went on to say that he had pulled the best man off the bridegroom when his wife drove up in her donkey cart. She at once took the best man to task, Out the only result was that he assaulted her, too. " Did you put your hand on the iiride's knee!'" the clerk ask.d Kelting —who is seventy-four. "On, no, sir. It was not me, was the reply. The bride hers.ilf declared that she did not know bow the trouble began, as she wa*> so excited that sh» went oft' in a dead faint. " Alterwards," she said, "I went upstairs to lie down, and when I came downstairs iator the room v.as like a slaughter-house, and t was al! the next day washing up the blood."' When cross-summonses were heard rgunst the bridegroom and Mrs. Kelting for assaulting the best man. the bitter d-.clar.d that after a man had put his hand cu the knee of the br.de, the bridegroom tore off the bnde s hlo'itfio and smacked her face: so, to s:vo further trouble, he put her in a iod:ii and turned the key of the door. Eventually Smith and hi.s best man, •lefferey, were fined £2 each, and were bound over in £lO tor two years to keep the peace. The summons against Mrs. Kelting was dismissed.