The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-05-25 00:00:00

THE CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

In London, hot Saturday, at the Mariliorongh.street Police-
court, Henry Seymour, aged 75 years, calling himself some-
times the Hon. Henry Seymour, and on other occasions the
lion. Henry Cavendish, the lion. Henry Ponsonby, and the
lion. Edward Bentinck, was again brought before the magis-
trate on the charge of having committed bigamy by inttr-
marrying with Anne Elizabeth Pugh, Lis wife Alethea being
alive.
Mr. Straight, who prosecuted, said, on the last
occasion the prisoner asked for time, in order that his
solicitor might attend; but no solicitor WM in attend-
ance, the prisoner having adopted the same excuse
when tried before. He would now produce a certifi-
cate copy of the mandue between Henry Cavendish
and Alethea Thomas in 1861, the husband being de-
scribed as bachelor, the wife as spinster, and he would
then call two witnesses who had seen the prisoner's
first wife alive in Paris a few days since.
Mrs. Edey said : I was present at the Register Office, ,
Southampton, on the 10th August, 1861, and saw the
prisoner married to Alethea Thomas, and I was one of
the subscribing witnesses to that marriage. I have been
to Paris for the purpose of seeing Alethea Thomas, or
more properly Mrs. Cavendish. I met her on Thursday
last.
Mr. Straight stated that Mrs. Cavendish had
travelled 1,100 miles from the frontiers of Russia for
the purpose of being identified.
Mrs. Bell said: I was a subscribing witness to the
marriage of the prisoner in the name of Cavendish to
Alethea Thomas, and I saw her alive on Thursday
last at the "Railway" Hotel, Paris. lam quite sure
she was the same person.
Some letters were here handed to Mho Pugh, who
said they were all in the prisoner's handwriting.
Mr. Straight then read them as follows :
Sunny Bank, Highgate, Jnly, ISC9.
Mils Pugh—ln reply to your advertisement, lam seeking a
lady In whom I can place implicit confidence, to take the
entire charge of my estaolishment, situated In Italy, and to
travel with me in the summer, being an old man and a
widower, desiring an agreeable companion. Kindly favour
me with an early answer, as wy stay in England is limited.
...Direct to Z., Post-office, Highgate.
(Private and confidential.)
fiiinday Evening.
I now write as promised, dear Miss Pugh. When I saw
yen I told you of Ismily annoyances and jeolousies. They
have become en unnoy ing that I have made up my mind to
place an insurmountable barrier to their pretensions be
seeking some goof and trustwor thy English girl with whom
I could place my good niune awl honour in pelted confi-
dence, and this seek a wife out of my irnniediate circle. In
my short Interview with you it pleased me to think I hat
found the desired object in you. Your lady like man-
ner ant prepossessing appearance Orrick me forcibly and
the high terms in which your worthy aunt spoke if
YOU decided me to venture on the offer I now make.
You will call to mind the questions I asked you :-
1. Were your affections disengaged! 2. Were yon a
free agent? To loth you answered affirmatively. Then
comes the difficult question. How could 1 present you to
my household and my friends, to secure to you the respect
and esteem you are so justly entitled tot I now see, my dear
girl, havleg deeply and well reflected on the matter, the only
way for you to enter my house with honour heirs both is as Its
lawful mistress. If you will to me the favour to become my
wife lou will confer upon men great blessing, sliders my
part I will do all in my power to renderyour life happy. Cal.
offer you asplendiii home sod pert. et Independence by which
I hope to acquire your estren and as much of your lovi
as you may diet me herealer worthy of. Now, my dear Misc
Pugh, comes the grest Ai: AV to solve—the great 'apathy
of age. When! think of this Vs awful. thlt it will be I.
your favour, Slough I enjoy perfect health, and never spec,
a pound with doctor. in my life. I cannot, however, expect is
very long existence. Then you know, after contracting one
marriage de crotrenanre, you may contractanother of Inclina-
tion, with all the advantages of wealth. If you accept my
offer, frankly made, our marriage must bet secret one, to avoid
coming toan open rupture with my faintly. Once united, the