MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 February 1919, Page 3

MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

HUSBAND’S WEDDING WITH WIFE’S SISTER. Not for many a day has such a strange drama in real life been revealed as that which was brought to light in Marylehone, England. In brief the story is that a soldier masqueraded as his brother, also on active service, in “marrying” the sister of his wife, who was present at the ceremony, after which the false bridegroom made an undignified flight by way of the back door of the church. The reason which was the cause of this most extraordinary affair was that the absent brother was claiming a separation allowance on behalf of the woman concerned, he represented to the 'Army authorities- that she was his wife. The facts came out when Samuel William Hill, 26, private in the London Regiment, was charged with feloniously marrying Louisa Martha Eaton «hiriag the lifetime of his wife, Ada Kathleen Hill; and his wife and his brother’s wife, Louisa Martha Hill (nee Eaton) were charged with aiding and abetting him to commit the same offence; whilst his brother, Edward Robert Hill, 23, lance-corporal in the A.S.C., was charged with counselling, procuring, and commanding him to commit the same offence. All four Avere further charged Avith conspiring together to cheat and defraud the Secretary of State for War, and obtaining separation allowance by false pretences. Mr Harold Pearce, for the Public Prosecutor, said the circumstances Avere unusual, and pointed out that the AA’hole of the present proceedings might haA-c been avoided if oply EdAvard had married his present wife at the time he was living with her as his Avife. Samuel married Ada Cathieen Eaton in December, 1912, and in November, 1917, Avhile they were li\Ting at William Street, Edward came there on leave from France, and liAmd with Louisa Eaton as his Avife. Edward subsequently returned to France and on January 6, 1918, he made application for a separation alloAvance for Louisa Eaton, alleging that she Avas his wife. The Pay Office at Woolwich, believing his statement, issued to her an identity certificate and sent her separation allowance, as from November 16, 1917, to the extent of 16s a week, the total amount paid to her being £24. In February last the Pay Office wrote to her pressing her to produce her marriage Certificate, and being in a dilemma, she wrote to EdAvard Hill, in France, aaTTo in turn wrote to his brother Samuel, the upshot of the corrcsepopdenCe being that Edward asked Samuel to go through a form 'of marriage Avith Louisa Eaton in order that the marriage certificate might bo sent to the Pay Office. Samuel thereupon proceeded to the verger of Christ’s Church, CosAvay Street, Marylehone, had 'the banns published for three Avceks and on March 18 went through a form of marriage Avith Louisa Eaton, representing himself throughout as Edward Robert Hill. His own wife, Ada, Avas present at the nodding, and signed the register as a Avitncss. “His own wife,” exclaimed the astonished magistrate.

Mr Pearce said the verger’s attention was particularly drawn to this wedding because the bridegroom was very uneasy, and seemed to bo ratenr dirty, and after the marriage ceremony he asked to be let out of the church by the back door, a'S the police were after him for overstaying his leave. The Magistrate remarked that they had committed a variety of criminal offences. Mr Pearce agreed, and pointed out that the certificate thus obtained was afterwards sent by Edward to the Pay Office officials, who on discovering that he was in France at the time of the alleged marriage, communicated with the police. On October 10th Edward came home on leave, and then did what he would have been wise to have done in November, 1917 —married Louisa Eaton. ’All four when arrested by Detective-Sergeant Pinnick, made a statement confessing Prisoners were committed for trial, the women being admitted to bail, what they had done.