STOPPED THE WEDDING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9553, 28 July 1909, Page 7

STOPPED THE WEDDING.

DRAMATIC SCENE IN CHURCH.

Proceedings in a summons against one oi the candidates for East Grinstead have had a most sensational sequel in a stopped wedding, with a dramatic scene rarely provided outside the realm of iictiun. The gentlemen referred to, Mr Henry tflaker, an ex-aldermßn of Belgrave Place, Brighton, was summoned on Friday, June 11th, for unlawfully running away and leaving his child, Edith Margaret Blaker, chargeable to the funds of the Guardians of the parish of St. Giles. The summons was adjourned, the defendant's* fiancee becoming bail. Itvvas seated that defendant and the lady, who was in court, were to he married on the Saturday, at St. I'eter's Church, Brighton, and, sure enough, preparations were made for the ceremony. The chancel and the altar were decorated with an abundance of white flowers, and there was large crowd in church before one o'clock. At ten minutes to one a cab dashed up to the main entrance, aid two gentlemen alighted and hurriedly entered the church. They were met by the head verger. One of them said he was a brother of the bride, Miss Emily Ellen Frewer, and the wedding would be stopped. The organist had taken his seat, and was about to commence playing as a carriage containing three ladies, carrying white bouquets, arrived. The verger stopped him, and sent Miss Frewer's brother andjiis companion, believed to be a solicitor, across to the Rev. T. James, who was to have officiated. The bride-to-be had sent a note saying, "Wedding postponed for the present," and a minute to one the Rev. James sent the verger to tell the people assembled in the church there would be no wedding. Mr Frewer, the brother, declined to say anything except "Miss Frewer is my sister, and I, have come to prevent the wedding taking place." In the proceedings under the sum- j mens at Bow Street, referred to I above, Mr Sydney Ashley, who prosecuted, • said the defendant's daughter was admitted to the workhouse in December, IPO2, from Torrington Square, where Blaker at that time kept a boardinghouse. She was afterwards sent to Uorton Lunatic Asylum, where she died in January, 1908. At the time of her admission the defendant was given to terrible habits of intemperance, and he treated his wife and children —all of them daughters—with great brutality. The maintenance of the girl in question cost the Guardians altogether £l4O, towards which the defendant only contributed £2O ss. About March, 1905, the defendant disappeared from London and nothing mors was heard of him until a recent Friday, when statements were published in some of the Sussex papers to the effect that he was to be married at Brighton, to a lady of means and position, whilst reference was made to the fact that he was about to offer himself as a Parliamentary candidate for East Grinstead. The Relieving Officer gave evidence in support of the statement, and mentioned that the defendant's late wife and another daughter were fclso admitted to the workhouse in June, 1903. Defendant stated that his (laughter was not a child, but was 27 years of age when she died. He always did the best he could fo- her, and he had no means now. It was true that he was about to be married, and that the lady he was going to marry had some money, but that was no reason why she should be invoted in any expense. The Magistrate: What have you to say about running away? Defendant: I have never run away. I don't belong to the running away crowd. 1 ha"e been down to Brighton. Eventually the hearing was adjourned for a week and the defendant was ordered to find two sureties in £25 each for his appearance. Defendant: Wont' you acefpt one in £100? You can have the money if you want it. My fiancee is here; will you accept her? Subsequently the lady in questior., who had i > rc-urt throughout the proceedings, was accepted" ao bail. When the hearing was resumed the magistrate asked Blaker if he made an offer of payment, and the defendant replied that the money shou d be paid if the magistrate thought it was due. His wife, he added, put his daughter into the workhouse against his wish, but if the amount 1 must be paid he would pay it. The magistrate, in giving his de- : cision, said that upon the merits of I the case there was not one single I word he could find in defendant's I favour. That he deserted his child there could be no question of doubt. The only question turned upon whether the summons was taken out in sufficient time to warrant the defendant's getting the punishment which he deserved, but he could say that if an application was made for a case to be stated he should be glad to grant it, because it was a summons which he thought was most properly applied for and granted. { Interrputing, the defendant repeated his detiire to pay anything that was due from him. ,' The Magistrate: Do you want me to make an order? i The Defendant: Certainly. I The Magistrate: But lam going to discharge you. The case is dismissed. The Defendant: I anticipate your j decision, but I don't want to be discharged. 1 would rather pay what is due from me. Mr Ashley intimated that he would apply for a case to be stated.