A BRIDE BY A MINUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 36, 1 February 1908, Page 4

A BRIDE BY A MINUTE.

A young American latiy, iliss ila..^.. ; AlcAuanis, daughter ot a well-kit^.>.. ' Ohio doctor, nau an exciting race ag.i..... time on December Li, when isne w«-i u». at St. L.eorge's, Hanover iNjuarc, to ..•. married to -tUr. Kowland uateman, u Corbal.y, County Cork. bite, started lor the church in a muioi car Willi enough time to reat-n tin cnureli ill cui..ion. Ao ailowan^i. tnougn, was made lor accidents, ami ,'. was exceedingly uniurlunalo that on, should occur on tins day oL all ottiei.-.. \\ hen a short distance on her way linear broke down, and despite alt tin eliorts of the citaulleur il refused to nuuge an inch, 'tune was slipping by, and the fata.

hour of three, niter winch no wedding can take place in England, 'was rapid!/ approactnng. 'inure was no help lur it. r.ie bride, in all her wedding lincry, ol white satin and otd lace, had to descend from her car ami complete the journey in a rumbling lour-wneeler lur past its prune. the bride, breathless anil anxious, arrived at the church at seven minutes ro three and the service was rushed through, just as tite clock was striking tne hour the ring was slipped on the undes linger. The olhciating clergyman, the bridegroom, and all the guests were in a state of great excitement, for at one time it seemed as if the wedding would have to be postponed on account or the tiiue-limit, and everybody breathed a sigh of relief when the' knot was well and truly tied just on the stroke of .time.

Tli<! happy <-oui>l« later oh departed for the Continent, ami this time lull an ample margin of .imc lor catching Hie train. BKiSACH OF PROMISE CASE ll was mentioned sonic linn' ago thai Captain tut- lion. •'. K. Ij. uii'Ue-DulUr, ot the Scuts Guards, luul sinldi'iily married me' popular actress, .Miss Dcnise Oriuc. That step lias led to Captain lardc-ltuller being sirhl mr brcaeii jl promise by Airs. Mabel Louisa Athi'i'ton, Liu- divorced wife ot Colonel Thomas. Atherton, ot the lath banters. The ease came on in Air. Justice Darling'* court recently. It was romarkab.e, not only iiceausc of the large number 01 counsel belonging to the nrst rani; engaged on both sides, but also because the plaintilf claimed no damages, and plaintiff and defendant are well-Kiiown person* in ■ society.' 'i ne court was crdwded by military and aristocratic visitors. it was an obvious disappointment to mosi of them that the case ended without evidence being taKcn. The hearing was briet, but as the circumstances revealed to the judge and jury, it was seen th.it the plaffttui', who is a rich woman, and therefore wanted no compensation, sought Wily to publicly expose the defendant's infamy m breaking his pledge to marry her. .Mrs. Atherton was divorced from her husband last July, m consequence, ot her intimacy with Captain l arde-JJuller, lietore the divorce Captain \arde-i>iiller endeavoured to induce her to run away with him. He wrote her many aheciionate letters, declaring ihnfue* would never many anyone else, ami definitely promised her marriage when she was divorced. He repeated the promise on several qceasionri alter the decree had been issued, at Colonel Athciton's suit. Shortly lielore it was nia.di; absolute, the Captain cooled down, and not many weeks afterwards he married Miss Deilise Ornie, the actress. There was virtually no defence, and the Court had no occasion to consider the very dillicnlt question whether a promise could be regarded, as binding when made to the plaintilf before divorce, and while she was a married woman. -Many ol the love letters which passed between tne couple were read in court. They (showed undoubted devotion on both sides. ±\o explanation was given for the delendant's change of altitude towards .Mrs. Atherton. it was sudden and inexplicable. In the end a judgment was entered for the plaiutiU" with costs. Though no evienee was taken the plaintilf succeeded in her object of gibbeting Captain ¥ardc-liuUor,