Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Saturday 07 April 1888

A Faithless Husband. Summoned for Wife Desertion.
End of a Conisborough Romance.

To-day at the West Riding Court, Doncaster. before Lord Auckland and other magistrates, Thomas Bonnett, an ex-policeman, was summoned for deserting his wife, Sarah Bonnett.

It will be remembered that recently a scandal arose in connection with the defendant who, after courting a Nottingham young lady came to Conisborough and became enamoured of his present wife.

Previous to the marriage the Nottingham young lady came over and caused a sensation by forbidding the banns, and on the eventful day of the marriage, when defendant should have been at church, he was working in the field, and had to be fetched to church. Recently he left his wife.

Complainant, who is a prepossessing young woman, stated that they were married on the 12th of August last. They lived in Conisborough for two months, and on the 10th of October he deserted her

He told his young wife that he was going to his sisters at Belton, in Lincolnshire and that he was in a low state of health, and he thought a change of air would do him good The wife subsequently discovered he had gone back to bis old flame —the woman who tried to kill herself at Conisborough

He had not paid anything towards her maintenance since that time. ‘ When he left her he said he was going to see his sisters Belton, but he had gone to Loudon, where she found  him on February 3, and asked him to support her.

He replied that “he had nothing for himself.” He was an ex- metropolitan policeman, and had a pension of 12s. a week. She also believed that he had been in business as barber, and that he could earn 20s. week in that way; but he had told her so many lies that she could not believe him. She thought he was with a girl now, and handed a letter to the magistrates which she believed had come from the woman he was living with. She also produced a letter from her husband, but it was not made public

Defendant had sent letter to Supt. Blake and a certificate stating that he was suffering from a spinal injury he could not attend, and asking that the case might be adjourned.

Lord Auckland stated that the magistrates would make an order upon defendant to pay 10s. week towards complainant’s maintenance, and in addition he would have to pay £1 6s. 6d. costs. If he did not pay the chairman advised complainant to take out a summons against him.