From the Daily Express and the Daily Mail, 19 October 1919, this account of an application for support made by a woman in the Dublin Police Court against a man who denied ever having been married to her. The wedding was said to have taken place at Westland Row Roman Catholic Church (image above) with a very youthful best man, aged only 13 ½.
“AMAZING MARRIAGE
Wedded Four Days after Meeting
BEST MAN AGED 13½
Extraordinary Story in Dublin Police Court
The adjourned case, in which a young soldier named Francis Gaffney denied that he was married to a woman who claimed support from him was again before Mr. Lupton in the Police Court yesterday.
At the last hearing the woman produced a marriage certificate, showing that she was married at Westland row Roman Catholic Church to Gaffney, who told the court that the first he heard of his marriage to the woman was when she claimed separation allowance from the Army authorities, which up to that time, he said, had been paid to his mother. The case was then adjourned for the production of witnesses of the marriage, the magistrate pointing out that if Gaffney was perjuring himself he would be placed in the dock.
Mr. Scott appeared for complainant and Mr. James Brady for defendant.
NO REFRESHMENT.
Mrs. O’Toole, Baggot court, stated she saw Gaffney married to complainant in Westland row Church. The day before the marriage she saw defendant for the first time in the house of Mrs. Gaffney. They were married at 2 o’clock.
Mr. Lupton—Was there any refreshment of any kind? No.
Mr. Brady—Was there any “jollification”? —No.
Did the party go back to the house? —Yes.
What did they have there? —Only tea.
Was there any “doctoring” of the tea? —No. (Laughter.)
Was there any stout? —No.
A YOUNG BEST MAN.
A boy named Christopher Gaffney, aged 13½ years, a brother of the defendant, was also examined. He said he was at the wedding and acted as best man.
Mr. Lupton—Did you see your brother there? —Yes.
Did you see him married? —Yes.
Were you there when the ring was put on? —Yes.
What did you do after the wedding? —I went home and had tea. (Laughter.)
The complainant, recalled, said she met the defendant on a Monday, and they were married on the following Friday.
Mr. Lupton—A four days’ courtship!
The defendant, on being sworn, said he never was in the church at Westland row, and was never married to the woman.
Mr. Lupton—You must have a “double” somewhere. I believe you were married, and I’ll make an order for 12s. 6d. a week.
Mr. Scott asked for costs.
Mr. Lupton—I’ll give you a guinea costs. This is one of the most extraordinary cases I have ever heard. I’ll send the papers to the Attorney-General, and let him do what he likes. It is a case of the most flagrant perjury on one side or the other.”
No prosecution was ever subsequently brought, but it may have been some time before Francis and his erstwhile best man were back on good terms!
Leave a Reply