“BEHAVED AS A GENTLEMAN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 201, 14 November 1927, Page 6

“BEHAVED AS A GENTLEMAN”

MARRIED MAN AND GIRL OF 16 WEDDING RING THAT COST 6D “He has been very kind to me and behaved as a gentleman all through, lie says he will marry me as soon as he is free.’* This remark was made by Miss Alexandra. Caroline Sims, a handsome and well-grown girl of 16, when Vicary Gibbs, 35, a married man, of St. Paul’s Koad. Clifton, was accused, at Bristol, of abducting her. The charge was dismissed, the Bench holding the view that no jury would convict on the evidence before the court. Mr. Marks, prosecuting, said that in .Inly the girl’s father met Gibbs with Ins daughter, and warned him that the girl was too young to be walking out as she was only just over 16. The following Sunday the girl, who was dissatisfied at home, went to Gibbs and told him she was unhappy at home. He said he was going for a tour round the coast, and that day they went to London together. Telegram to Father From there a letter was sent to her father saying they were going off together, that being the only way they could see to induce the parents to consent to their marriage. ' They stayed at two addresses at Margate, occupying separate rooms, and were at an hotel at Hastings when Gibbs was arrested. He was a married man, whose wife was still living. Mr. William Sims, of Barton Street, Bristol, the father, said after his daughter disappeared he received a telegram: "Do not worry. Wait for letter. Everything all right.” Next day a letter, written partly by bis daughter and partly by Gibbs, arrived. Gibbs’s message, a postscript, read:— “What Babs has written is true. We shall be able to prove to the world that everything is as it should be. She is coming because we don’t intend to be parted.” The girl’s note stated: “There is nothing wrong at all. I’m not going to live with Vick, but simply stay until we can do the right thing.” Cross-examined, Mr. Sims said there had been differences at home over the

girl staying out late, but he had no knowledge of his wife having told her to clear out. Giving evidence, the girl said she agreed to go with Gibbs, because she was miserable at home. Very Kind to Her They stayed at an address at Margate, occupying two separate bedrooms. They then went to another address at Margate, again occupying separate bedrooms, for three weeks, when they left for Hastings. At the latter resort they could not find separate rooms so they went to the George Hotel and she booked a single bedroom, stating that it was for herself and husband. She went to Woolworth’s and bought a sixpenny brass wedding-ring. (Laughter.) Later Gibbs was arrested. They had occupied the same room at Hastings. Cross-examined, the girl said she was a shop assistant, and earned 10s a week, of which she paid her mother 7s 6d. She was unhappy at home, and was better clothed at defendant’s expense than previously. He had also given her meals, and was very kind to her. She could not remember defendant saying whether he was married or single, but there was an occasion when he said he would marry her as soon as he was free. She did not realise the significance of his remark and let it pass. She trusted him as he was so kind to her. When she first met him she told him she was 18. Mr. Watson (defending): No one would take her for under 18. She is the finest girl of 16 I have ever seen in this court. The girl said from first to last Gibbs behaved as a gentleman. Mr. Watson put it to witness that from first to last there had been no intimacy between her and Gibbs, but she refused to answer the question.