MANIA FOR WIDOWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 October 1919, Page 2

MANIA FOR WIDOWS.

LU N ATIC ’SS MARRIAGE .ANNULLED

Mr Justice Sheurman granted a decree of DU’-if)" -Of the marriage of Mr John [Hoi'atio Ba-ldwifi, a, man of means, aged 42, who escaped from a private lfinatic asylum in 1918, and married a widow, Mrs Mann,’ who hiad‘ been a housemaid -there. ' The ‘action for annulment was brought by .Dr. John Horatio Baldwin, of Furze Hill, Wimborne, Dorset‘, his father’s guardian, on the ground that Mr Baldwin was _n-oi: in a, fit menfal State ‘to ‘appréfiate the responsibility of the marriage =cOll?tra,ct.

Dr. George William Potter, now dead, but‘ Whose evidence taken !on commis4 sion was read, said Mr Baldwin in his young days was kcen‘a.fter money, and very pig-headed. Later in life, in his insane periods he hated his son “like the devil,” and would have murdered him, ‘only he ha.d*'”iiot the courage. Several times he had Ithreatened to murder him. ‘ "Baldwin never missed seeing a woman, especially ‘a- young one,” said Dr. Potter. He was quite capable of making sensible observations and Writing sensible letters. Dr. Potter once knew a lunatic who’ thought he was a gasometer. TheAJudge': I remember a man who imagined he was -a powder magazine, and had alwea-ys fto be drinking to put himself out. (Laughter) ' Mr Baldwin, added rthc doctor, was not of sound mind when he saw him