WEDDING STOPPED.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1921, Page 5

WEDDING STOPPED.

MAN ARRESTED AT CHURCH. DETECTIVES TAKE ACTION. BRIDE MUCH DISTRESSED. Sydney, Jan. 3. A wedding was stopped at St. Paul’s Church, Redfern, last night, owing to the intervention of detectives. The minister who was about to perform the ceremony stated that he would be unable to go on with the service. The man arrested was James Leslie Grant, aged 22, bootmaker, who was charged with having broken into J. and F. Hoile's tailor shop and stolen rolls of eerge and a diamond pin valued altogether at £230. He appeared at the Central Police Court this morning and was remajided for three days. Bail was allowed. The bride wept over the turn of events, but, as Superintendent Bannan said this morning, the detectives could not help themselves, and they had to do their duty. For some time past Superintendent Bannan has had men on the look-out for Grant. Detectives Barclay and James had the principal part of the work of investigation placed on their shoulders, and for weeks they have been searching the city almost night and day to come across him At the instigation of Superintendent Bannan they watched a house in one of the suburbs. Superintendent Bannan received detectives’ reports of the matter yesterday morning, and he gave them certain instructions as to procedure. They went to St. Paul’s Church, Redfern, where they interviewed the minister, who told the brief knowledge he had of the parties. Barclay and James waited near the church for close on three hours, and at 7 o’clock saw four cabs approaching. As soon as the vehicles fulled up, Barclay and James approached and asked for Grant, who stepped forward. He was escorted to the presbytery, and the bride was directed to another room with her friends. “We have been looking for you, Grant, for some weeks. We have been searching trains, boats, and railway stations and watching the General Post Office. We wanted to interview you regarding a matter.”

“Yes,” was Grant’s reply. “We have made another arrest which we want to speak to you about.” “Yes,” was again the reply of Grant. “You will be taken into custody, and the wedding cannot take place, added the detectives. Grant made a reply, and then allowed himself to be driven away to the Central Police Station

Naturally, the friends of both were in a state of consternation at the turn of events. The girl, who is only IS I years of age, was very much upset. She cried piteouslv, and the scene was heartbreaking. As grant was driven away his intended wife received the information from friends, and wept more than before. “It’s not a happy New Year for me,” she remarked. '“Never mind,” added a friend, “there s a silver lining in the sky for everyone.” The detectives explained, before leaving the church, that the marriage could be performed by a gaol chaplain if the parties so wished. After receiving every consideration and kindness from the minister who was to perform the wedding ceremony, the parties were driven to their homes in the cabs, but instead of being bright and happy they were a much dejected party.