Love Comedy in Court

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 934, 29 March 1930, Page 18

Love Comedy in Court

Quarrel, Sobs —Then Kisses

SHE threads of a romance which became frayed over the Chelsea Arts Ball at the Royal Albert Hall were repaired in the Marylebone (London) Police Court on the following day. The central figures were an attractive widow (who said she was staying at the Carlton Hotel as the guest of a Major Ward) and Mr. Cyril Clutterbuck, an engineer of the Royal Air Force Club, Piccadilly. Mr. Clutterbuck, who had been arrested only an hour previously, was charged with using threats toward the widow, Margaret Talman. He denied the charge. Mrs. Talman. who was in tears, said she had arranged to go to the Albert Hall Ball on New Year's Eve, and she asked Mr. Clutterbuck by telephone to join the party. He declined, she said, and threatened to shoot her and “the-old man.” He also said he would be at the Albert Hall, that she had better be careful, and that she would not see him. She

tried all night to get in touch with him, but could not. “1 Was Frightened” Mr. Dummett (the magistrate): Were you under a genuine apprehension that harm would come to you?— Mrs. Talman: Yes, 1 was frightened. Are yon now?—l don’t want to be. Mrs. Talman said she laid the information because she was so worried. “I didn’t like going out or leaving the Carlton,” she said, weeping. “I have been afraid all day today.” Mr. Dummett: Is he jealous of you?—That is the whole of the trouble. Mr. Clutterbuck on oath denied the alleged threats. He said that after speaking to Mrs. Talman, to whom he was engaged, he sent a letter to the hotel by express messenger, asking her to return his ring; but there w'sfs no reply. He then telephoned to her asking her to return the ring. She again asked him to accompany them to the ball, and he said it was impossible,

and told her to be careful, as he would be there and that he Intended seeing Major Ward in the morning. No Threat To Shoot "No such words as a threat to shoot passed by my lips,” he declared. “I don’t possess a gun.” Mr. Dummett: When you said "Be careful,” what did you mean? —I meant to let her know that I should be there to spoil her evening. Do you disapprove of her friendship with Major Ward?—No. What is the cause of the trouble?— We had arranged to go to the ball, and when I heard that Major Ward was going I refused. 1 do not think it was dignified to ask me to accompany her with another man to a ball if I was buying the tickets. Had you any intention of using violence to her or Major Ward? —None whatever. Mrs. Talman, recalled, said: “I was engaged to him and 1 love him very much, and still want him.” Under Great Emotion Mr. Clutterbuck, replying to the magistrate, said his feelings toward Mrs. Talman were unchanged. Mr. Dummett said both of them had been acting under the stress of great emotion and he would give the accused the benefit of the doubt and dismiss the charge. Inspector Francis then played his part in the romance. He spoke to both and a moment later Mr. Clutterbuck extended his arms and the widow, sobbing, was clasped in them Mr. Clutterbuck kissed her before they left the court.