Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 23 May 1919

Remarkable Matrimonial Case.

An extraordinary reason for bringing a case before the magistrates was given in the Second Court, when Harriet E. Walshaw, 280, Bolehill Road. Sheffield, summoned her husband, John. Walshaw, 37, Wortley Avenue, Swinton, for desertion.

Mr. H. W. Jackson, for the complainant, said that the case was brought to discover if defendant could produce evidence that the first husband of the complainant was still alive.

Complainant said she was married at the age of 15 ½  to a man ten years her senior, named Walter Edward Sissons. During the first two and half years of their married life they had 25 homes, He left her about 1905, and she obtained a separation order. Sissons never paid anything under the order, and disappeared, and she lost all trace of him. Early 1914 she heard that he had died in the Workhouse.

About that time she formed an acquaintance with Walshaw, and later married him. At the time of the marriage she had some furniture of her own, with which she furnished a house in Bolehill Road, Sheffield. During her absence from Sheffield for a few weeks Walehaw stripped the house of furniture. Recently he had written her and told her that Sissons was alive, and he could produce him when he wished. Walshaw signed the letter, “ Your illegal husband,” and also wrote, “I hate you like rats hate poison.”

Complainant also made allegations that her husband was familiar terms with another woman.

Walshaw declared that on April 16th he met Sissons, who was known as “Pincher,” in public-house at Doncaster. Sissons had since moved on to Goole, and the police were trying to find him.

The magistrates ordered Walshaw to pay his wife 30s. per week and the costs of the case. Mr. G. Smith, for the defendant, gave notice of appeal.