Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-08-05
MARRIAGE BARGAINS.
English Agent Says He Has
Made 1000 Matches.
lFrom L0nelon CAronicle


(From London ChronicIe)
In giving Judgment for Miss Her.
mon in the "marriage by Post" case
at Westminster County Court, Judge
Woodfall commented on the fact
that it was of particular interest to
lawyers, as he was obliged to 60 back
100 years to get any precedent for
dealing with it.
Miss Hermon claimed the return
of so guineas paid to Mr.. r. Charles.
worth, proprietor of the Matrimonial
Post and fashionable Advertiser on
the ground that the contract under
which she paid was an illegal one,
and that it was asrepudiated before it was
completed. She had sought the as
sistance of Charlesworth in securi ng
a husband. She paid him esq
($250), and contracted to pay e25O
on the completion of the marriage.
Miss Hermon's evidence included
the allegation that among those no.
blemen and others to whom she was
introduced were:
A full blooded negro,
A lodging house Keeper,
A Roumauian prince, and
An English Lord.
Mr.. Charlesworth denied the full.
blooded negro, and declared that the
dark gentleman was an Indian bar
rister. In all, he told the court, he
had thousands of clients.
"Young men," asked Mr.. Compton
Smith, who appeared for him.
Sometimes young men, some
times old, defendant explained ad-
ding, 81 have made about 5000 mar
riages in ALL"
Miss Hermon he DECLARED, came to
him at first in the name Of Mrs
Stephens. "She asked me what /
could do for her." while the court
Uttered expectantly, "and l said
had no doubt / could arrange mat
ters." He gave the lady Gg6 adj
dresses of people likely to meet her
wishes.
He interviewed 81 people for her,
but either the lady or gentlemen
were difficult to please, and after
hearing all that was to be said four
out of five would not entertain the
proposition.
"You know she suggested in her
evidence" council. reminded witness
"that you promised her a husband
with between $4,000 and G5, 900 a
year. Is that true?"
81 promised her a husband with
between e300 and $500 year. It's
out of The question: he added, "for
a lady with $4,000 to expect such
sum. gave her men up to G5, 900,
$4,000, some 97,000-men who had
made their money out at the Cape"
Mr.. Schiller (for plaintiff): "You
said they had" Laughter. "I
know they had, but she wouldn't
go on"
"She says you spoke of marquis,
or lord, who was on your books, is
that true?' asked counsel. never
mentioned such a thing" Mr..
Charlesworth declared. "T could
have married her off. al would
have given her introductions, but |
could not make her marry-I can't
make love for her, and all that"
Among the advertisers on the front
page Of his journal were;
"a rising young lawyer, of good
"a prince who is related to every
royal family in Europe"
"a peer of the realm"
can Englishmsn of title, aged SO, !
who accepts invitations to dinner"
and so on.
"Was the marquis you married a |
gentleman who was always in the
Bankruptcy Court" counsel asked.
What is that to do with it2 IF a |
person has got Q title, I'll marry
him, if he is in the Bankruptcy
Court or any other court"
"You told her you had a lord you
could marry her TOP
81 told her | had foreign lord"
referring again to his list of
names, Mr.. Compton Smith COM
nented, al see there is one, a sport
Ing clergymen, who has about e3,5QO
year." Witness replied that Mias
Herman saw them all, and COM
planned that they were all on the
'ame track as herself; they all wanted
money.
After a long legal argument, his
donor gave Judgement for the
plaintiff, with costs, holding the
to be u marriage broker
,na aao f.oa. ..l IN =, !