William Beriah CRUMP

1862 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	William Beriah CRUMP
  Birth	Dec 1862	West Bromwich RD   [1]
  Gender	Male
  _UID	7F8DA875B3B8425EB48AEAC5DEC0EC762143
  Death	Yes, date unknown
  Notes	The Rhyl Journal 13 February 1897 "A POETIC SCOUNDREL." SINGULAR LETTERS. At Handsworth Police Court, near Birmingham, before Messrs J B Lees, E H Stringer, and J H Pearson, Annie Crump, a farmer's daughter residing near Mold, applied for a maintenance order against her husband, William Beriah Crump, no occupation, of 19, Sycamore-road, Handsworth and who resided for a time in Abbey-street, Rhyl. Mr W F Jeffery, who appeared on her behalf, stated that prior to her marriage the plaintiff was a nurse in an asylum in North Wales. While down there on a visit, defendant met her and told her a glowing story as to his position. His father was a gentleman, and his grandfather a doctor with an income of £20,000 a year. He further said he would benefit under his grandfather's will, and that he was in a situation at Tangye's and had money in the bank, some of which he would settle upon her. In view of these statements she consented to marry him. After the wedding they came to Birmingham, and she then found that not only was he without situation or means, but that he was living with his relatives, and relied upon them for the means of existence. They lived together for three weeks, and then he resolved to get rid of his wife, and in order to do so he practised a deception which for depth was unparalleled. He wrote two letters to her father, in the first of which he said;- " It is now nearly a month since you gave your daughter in marriage to me, and during that time things have gone on with tolerable satisfaction, except for the circumstance of my having been out of employment from the day of my marriage up to the present time, which very much troubles Annie; but since a disturbed state of mind will not improve matters, I try to assure her that a cheerful patience is far the better course, knowing that the path of life is not always smooth. I wish her to come and spend a time with you while in this unfortunate position, but she says she would not care to. She is quite well. I find that she is not so careful as to her health as she might be. For instance, I have noticed her walk up stairs, and so on, with nothing on her feet but stockings - a course which will encourage rheumatism, to which she inclines constitutionally. I hope that by repeated corrections to make her more regardful of herself." The reply of Mr Hargreaves appears to have been unfavourable, and this is how defendant wrote hack- Dear Mr Hargreaves,-I am duly in receipt of your communication of the 7th inst., and was just a little surprised that the allusion to my wife contained therein was, as it seems to me, so utterly devoid of parental affection. It is my sound belief that she has discharged her duties at her home in a manner and with an obedience which should excite within her parents an abiding feeling of most tender affection. Whether her parents will receive her lovingly or not it is not for me to say, but seeing that I am still out of employment, and my means of maintaining her are quite exhausted, one or two alternatives will of necessity have to be taken. Firstly, she will return to the guardian care of her father and mother (how sweet the sound of mother), and, secondly, failing that she will take a situation. With heartfelt good wishes to you and Mrs Hargreaves, from yours very sincerely, Wm B Crump. - There is nothing in this world so sensitive as affection. It feels its own happiness too much not to tremble for its reality, and starts ever and anon, from its own delicious consciousness, to ask - Is it not, indeed, a dream? A word and a look are enough either to repress or to encourage." Mr Shakespeare (magistrates' clerk) - Is that a quotation? Mr Jeffery - I believe he has rather a poetic nature. Continuing, Mr Jeffery said that, not content with that, defendant wrote two anonymous letters to friends of the complainant's father. In one he said-" For some reason or other Mr Crump has already separated from his wife, late Annie Hargreaves, Hill Farm. The truth will out sooner or later, have patience." The second read - "Mr Crump, who was lately married at Mold, has for some reason already parted from his wife, late Annie Hargreaves, of Hill Farm, near Mold. Yours truly, NEMO." The only construction to be placed upon such letters was that he desired to convey an innuendo reflecting upon complainant. Defendant was one of these gentlemen who walked about and thought they could get their living by keeping their hands in their pockets. In answer to a request from his wife that he should earn a living, he said it was only fools who worked. He thought the ability of the defendant to work would be amply proved. His letters showed that he had received a good education, which ought to place him in the position of earning at least £2. a week. Plaintiff was then called, and having corroborated the opening statement added that she found that the defendant's banking account only amounted to £3, and that he had not been in a situation for six years. She stayed with him for about three weeks, and then got a situation for a month before going back home. Miss Crump (defendant's sister) told her that she must go, as she could not support her. She told defendant, and he said he could not find a home for her. She must go. Mr Shakespeare (to defendant): You admit deserting her, do you? Defendant: No, sir. - Do you admit not finding her a home? Yes. - Well, that is deserting her, you know. You admit she was obliged to leave the house? She was not obliged to leave; she was not turned out. - But advised that she could not stay ? That my sister could not support her or anyone else. - And you admit that you had no means to support her? Yes. - And you don't want to live with her ? I do want to live with her. - Well, how are you going to keep her ? When I have the means to support her I will do so. - Are you prepared to take her to-day and find her a home ? I have no means to support her. - And you were in the same position when you married her ? Yes. - Well, why did you marry her? I must have been led away by my feelings (laughter). Mr Stringer: I think the word failings would better describe the position. Mr Shakespeare - You admit you did wrong to marry her ? I admit it was not a wise course to pursue. Mr Lees - Were you ever employed at Tangye's? Defendant - No. Mr Shakespeare - Then all these statements were untrue. About this £20,000 a year? Defendant - I never made such a statement. Mr Shakespeare - What about the substantial wedding present ? Defendant - I cannot account for that. Mr Shakespeare - Have you anything else to say? - Defendant - I can say no more than that I was quite carried away by my feelings, and did not know what I was about. If I could procure employment- Mr Lees - Why don't you try ? Mr Shakespeare - What is your business? - Defendant - I have never been in any business, because of ill-health. Mr Shakespeare - How do you live? - Defendant - My father and sister have kept me. Mr Jeffery - He never tries to get work, and never will. Mr Lees - It would be difficult for us not to be carried away by our feelings in expressing our contempt for a man who compelled his wife to make such an application. We think you are a heartless scoundrel. It is impossible to characterise your conduct in anything like moderate terms. We shall make an order that your wife will no longer be bound to cohabit with you, and you will have to make a payment of 10s per week towards her maintenance, and that you pay the whole of the costs, including her solicitor's fee. - Defendant asked for time to pay, and again said he had no means. Mr Lees - Well, wheel a barrow. You'll get £1 a week at that, and it will do you good. - Defendant - I have my physical health to consider. The Rhyl Journal 27 March 1897 THE SEQUEL.- At the Handsworth Police Court William Beriah Crump, 19, Sycamore Road, was charged with neglecting to comply with an order made against him on February 5 to contribute 10s. per week to the maintenance of his wife, Annie Crump, of Hill Farm, Mold. When the order was made it was stated by the plaintiff's solicitor that prior to the marriage, in March, 1896, she was a nurse at an asylum in North Wales. Defendant made various representations to complainant, stating that he had great expectations from a grandfather worth £ 20,000. per annum. When, after the marriage, they came to Birmingham, complainant found defendant was, and had been for years, out of employment. At the end of three weeks she was turned adrift, and had to return to her father's home. Plaintiff said defendant had paid her nothing whatever since the order was granted. - Mr Shakepeare (magistrates' clerk): Why have you not paid your wife anything? - Defendant: My friends have made many attempts to procure employment for me, but their efforts have been unsuccessful. - Mr Harding (chairman of the Bench): Find work for yourself, man. - Mr Shakepeare - You were able to go to Rhyl for a fortnight. - Defendant: Yes but the money was given to me to go with. - Mr Harding: You will have to go to gaol for one month, and if you don't keep up your payments when you come out you will be sent back again.
  Person ID	I434	Marlesford, Suffolk
  Last Modified	3 Aug 2020

  
  

  Family	Annie HARGREAVES,   b. 6 Aug 1871, Mold, Flintshire, Wales d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	Mar 1896	Holywell RD   [2]
  Children	1. Hargreaves ROBERTS ne CRUMP,   b. Dec 1897, Hetton-le-Hole, Durham d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F157	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	28 Jul 2020

  
  

• Sources

  [S2] BMD index, Q4 1862 West Bromwich 6b/603, mother's maiiden name BEAMAN. (Reliability: 3). [S2] BMD index, Q1 1896 Holywell 11b/272. (Reliability: 3).