The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-11-07 00:00:00

ALLEGED BIGAMY.

On NVeilnesday, in last week, MaS. arta LUMLEY, wastaken
before Mr. Tyrwhitt, the magistrate at the Marlborough-street
Police curt, London, charged with unlawfully intermarrying
with Major William Brownrigg Lumley, K.C.8., during the
lifetime of her hushan.l, Alexander Victor.

According to the statement of the counsel for the prosecu-
tion, she had described herself in the marriage certificate as
Kiln Haines, of full age, spinster; the husband was de-
scribed as a bachelor and a gentleman, residing at Hamp-
stead. The lady was also described as residing with her
father, Thomas Haloes, gentleman, Hall ipsteml. The
counsel said he should prove that a previous marriage was
contracted at St. Heliers, Jersey, and he accordingly pro-
duced a copy of the marriage certificate. It was in French,
and had been compared with the marriage register in the
Channel Islands, within the diocese of Winchester.
A great deal of evidence was given, and the case was ad-
journed.

On Tuesday the adjourned examination took place, and
the first witness was Mrs. Grey, who laid that she knew
Eliza Baines in 1545. Elba was a little older than witness
was. She knew defendant as "Elias Victor" while at
Clifton. Witness was well acquainted with Eliza Haines's
sisters She had known Nlrs. Victor before her marriage
with Mr. Victor That gentleman taught her French.
During the cross-examination, witness said she had
always understood that the marriage between Eliza and Mr.
Victor was illegal. Victor was a Roman Catholic, and it was
generally believed In the island of Guernsey that he watt an
escaped French convict, and she had also heard that there
was a flaw in the marriage. The defendant was received after
her in:snag° with Major Lumley as his wife amongst her
friends and relations. Major Lumley made an offer 44 mar-
riage to a maid servant trained Mary Hand, whom Witness
had recommended to Mrs. J. Brewer. This servant came to
witness and complained that Major Lumley Persecuted her,
and in proof of that showed her a letter she had received
from Major Lumley. Some time before witness was married,
1,, 1845, Ells., Haines told her the illegal marriage wilh
Vidor was done away with. It won currently believed in the
island that Vietor was a French convict, although lie taught
in the first families in the island. Mr. Victor introduced
Eliza Baines to witness's ma as his wife, during the time
he was engaged teaching her French.
Mr. Matthews then deposed that in September, 1861, he
went to St II eliers, is consequence of a communication loon
Major Lumley, where he examined the register of the
marriages at the Rectory of St. Ilellers Witness
here Inc in a copy of the register of the marriage )
Many months ago he received from Major Lumley a photo-
graph of Mrs Lumley which he showed to eight or nine dif-
ferent je 'Tons, who recognised lira Lumley as the wife of
Alcatnier Victor.
.

Besley then put in a copy of the register of the second
marriage on July 9th. 1,17.
"' . . • • . .

- Mrs. Oliver, widow, said she resided at Clifton, Bristol,
and had lived at Bristol all ber life. She knew Mr.
Victor, who taught her Aster's sons French, when they were
the pupils of lir. Stone This was in 1841.42 She had
often met Mrs. Victor, and the defendant was
the same lady whom she knew as Mrs. Victor.
After she had known Mrs. Victor for sonic Shoe she the
defendant., was in trouble, and left the house she was living
In. Mr. and Mrs. Victor and /I lodger all came to live with
witness. When the Victors left Bristol they left behind
them a Spooll (produced, on which was engraved the
Initial letters "A. E. V." In 1648 witness saw Victor at
Brighton as she was passing through that town. She saw
his name in a directory and visited him. On asking to see
his wife, Victor said, " Ah, my poor wife, she has left me."
After some further minor details,
. _ . .

...... ......
Or. Stone, a schoolmaster, mentioned as residing at Bristol
In 1842, said that about the latter end of 1834 he engaged a
Mr Alexander Victor to teach French hi his school,
and that he had seen Mrs. Victor, but he could
not recognise the defendant as the same lady, and
he had not recognised a photograph of Mrs. Lumley
that Mr. Matthews showed hint a short time ago
as Mrs. Victor. lie knew Victor for floe years. Ile told
witness soon after he came that he was married. After
M. Victor left in 1542 witness saw nothit g of Madame
Victor. In 1859 Mr. Victor came to Bristol again,
awl applied to hint for employment as a French
teacher in his school. Ile coul t swear that the Wall he
saw in 1859 was the same man who hoed at Clifton as Mr.
Victor, in 1041-2.

Major Lumley was then recalled by Mr. Besley and ex-
amined as follows was in 1815 that I returned to Eng-
land front Bengal. I had been invalided home through being
struck Mind while in the field with my regiment, and after
being two years under Dr. Vesander, the celebrated oculist,
I got bet ter, lent my health suffixed through the treatment
I underwent to reduce the nervous inflammation. I at
that tithe lived at iny aunt's, Mrs. Bronco's. I had not
seeni the deb inlaid before that time. I knew her three
or four weeks before our marriage. Previous to her
marriage she never gave one a hint of tiering been married
to Victor, nor did she describe the circumstances of her past
life. I tint not lerrin Irma :.nything of her fancily. I
was Mit before nair marriage nit r,Blllced to any ineiniti -r of
her family. I net lurid icy Aunt 131.0WO'S house at Ilani-
mersunith I think she was there on a visit for twin iT three
days. I think I saw her about a week afterwards, but she
was then residing at an hotel. She did not remain at the
hotel op to our marriage.fir two or three days, and she
then went tin reside at lianip-tead for a fortnight to bring her
within the rule which requires a fortnight's residence in the
parish where the marriage is to be s deninized. She toil ed
at my :mint's, and I resident hi separate toughies. After
the marriage I was introduced tin tier father Mr. Thomas
Haines, and her another Mrs. Elizabeth Haines. They
Wet e living at Cornwall at that time, and they came
Inn us at the Isle of Wight. I knew her sisters, Sarah,
Charlotte, hornet, and Georgia., and her In-other 'rem, who
as in the Navy. Charlotte went to Australia ; neorgiana
was the youngest of the family, and I always understi id the
defendant Elicit to Inc the eldest. I knew nothing of the name
of Wright till I saw the certificate nit the first marrinme, in
which she is described .is Eliza Wright Haines. She married
me as Elizabeth, and subsequently a post-nuptial settlement
was male in the name of Elit I. I always called her Eliza.
I heard front her once that she hail a sister Caroline, who
hail died at Jersey, and she 8110 Well one some pinetry written
by her. Caroline wits the only sister I dint stunt tee. She
never mentioned the name 01 Victor to me. She said that
she hail been living as a companion to a Mrs. Price, inn the
suburbs of Bristol, and once pointed lant a house as the one
where she lived. I heard of the marriage with Victor
in ISeS. I first heard id the run at Boulogne. I em-
ployed Mr. Keane, the solicitor for the defendant In the
present ease, and Inc canie over from England for the
purpose of prosecuting Inc persons who prnpoirated the ru-
mour, and through Mr. li.mine'a express desire I withdrew
the prieseeution. I utterly repudiated the scandal winch was
proniullated Ibe int of the r 1111 l our again in 1865, 111111 I
began instituting fresh inquiries. My brother and niy,,elf
were on bad terms, and I offered him £5OO to tell me the
truth about the previous marriage. My brother told me he
dint not believe what Inc had heard. In 1865 I eint.rtained a
belief of the rumour, and the party sho instituted the in-
ninnies withdrew. Frost his stating that he did not believe
the rumour I made no he [dries further. Inn the summer of
ISMI it turned up again, and I then commenced the series lit
inquiries which has re:allied in the present case. Mr.
!ilattliews discovered the previous marriage. but behwe he
returned with the certificate I considered the matter very
uncertain I was not convinced I hail spoken to many
solicitors about it, and they told in. that I hail no proof.
%%bile living with the defendant she never said sins thing
:Mout a French forger, a French convict, or an invalid mar-
riage.

After the witness had been examined at some length, the
Magistrate sent the case I r trial, but considered it sufficient
to hold the defendant in her own recognizances to appear.