The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-01

last year being the first occasion of his
being retained to defend the bacon. 1t
should be stated that counsel appear be-
wigged and gowned, and they proved to
be veritable Buzfuzes in the matter of
volubility and cajolery. The jury, as
usual, consisted of six young girls dressed
in white who demurely occupied the
front benches, and just behind them sat
the same number of lads. any of whose
faces did not show "a single appearing
hair"
The case of Mr. and Mrs. Drury was
nrst called. Contrary to precedent, the
claimants were not placed in the witness
box and subjected to examination and
cross examination, but were allowed to
take their seats and answer the ques-
tons. Mr.. Marsh opened for the claim
ants.
Mr.. Drury, he said, was a waiter at
Queens College, oxford; he had held
TINS important position for twenty-one
years, and he had also had a long spell
In the Oxfordshire militia as a bands
man. 1t was during the Crimean war that
MT Drury had been called out, and he
served with the colors at Corfu at the
time when Sebastopol feel before the
British troops. In March, 1898, Mr.. Drury
met the present Mrs. Drury. The court
ship was of the briefest kind and only
lasted month. Was it possible for this
happy couple, asked Mr.. Marsh, to live
IN more appropriate place than Bliss
Court?
Then Mr.. Gibbons proceeded to have his
bacon-if possible. First of ALL lie basely
lnsinuated that the couple before him had
all thoughts for the bacon and none for
love. Call this court of love?" he
said. Il call it a court of bacon" and
the people in the court roared in uni
son. Mr.. Gibbons proceeded, with a good
deal of native wit. to examine the mill
tary deeds of Mr. Drury the g!st of mis-
contention being that domestic love could
hardly dwell in such a martial breast
Inc jury retired to consider its verdict,
after 1t had been briefly addressed by
the learned Judge On their return the
foreman said it gave them much pleasure
TO return verdict for the claimants.
After silence had been obtained by dnt
of the persuasions of the clerk of the
court Mr.. J. Hamilton, Mr.. Drury return
ed thanks and also contrived to say some
thing very apulatory about his wife,
whose face was wreathed in smiles as she
bowed to the court.
The next couple, Mr.. and Mrs. Johnston,
then came forward to prefer their claim
to the fitch. Mrs. Johnston aroused the
sympathy of the court, as she appeared
with baby in her arms, and attended by
several young children. Mr. Marsh, in
advocating the claims of the couple, said
Mr.. Henry Johnston had been twelve
years in one employment with a firm in
Lambeth Walk. He had been married dur
ing these years, and had been blessed
with numerous little Johnstons. His
client was, further, a member of the p.
S. A. at Christ churst, Westminster Bridge
road, but counsel modestly confessed
he didn't know what a P. S. A. was.
Mr.. Gibbons secured a number of good
points in reply, and caused the court to
laugh, and laugh again. But the claim
was allowed, as also in the case of the
third couple, Mr.. and Mrs. Rookie.
After the trial the happy couples were
chaired in procession, each having taken
the usual "oath" as follows:
You shall swear by Custom Of Confession
That you neer made nuptial transgres-
sion:
Nor since you were married man and wife
By household brawls or contentious strife,
Or otherwise. at bed or at board,
Offended each other in deed or word;
Or in a twelve-month and day
Repented not in thought any way.
Or since the parish clerk said Amen;
Wished yourselves unmarried again;
But continued true and in desire
AS when you joined hands in holy quire.
This recitation over, the judge in SOL
enn tones declared:
Since to these conditions without any
fear,
OF your own accord you freely swear;
A whole Fitch of Bacon you shall re-
ceive,
And bear 1T away with love and good
leave:
For this is the custom at Dunmow we'll
known:
Though the pleasure be ours, the Ba-
cons your own.
The bacon was then handed over to the
lucky recipients, and the ceremony was
over. Afterward the villagers disported
themselves with variety of country
amusements, such as pony racing, run
ming and leaping and the steam hurdy-
gurdy secured a large number of patrons.