MARRIAGES
McCAUGHAN — THOMAS. — At the Registry Office, Mosgiel. Thomas, third son of the late Hector McCaughan, to Sarah, eldest daughter of Henry Parnell, of this city. -Otago Daily Times, 11/11/1907.
MOTHERS' MATRIMONIAL MUDDLE.
Marries His Mate's Mamma
And Becomes His Own Step-father.
About the queerest marriage tangle this paper has ever heard of was ventilated in the Dunedin Police Court last week, and thoughtful persons in the Scotchbyterian town have been suffering bad headaches ever since trying to locate the exact relationship between two young men. Thomas Hector McCaughan, an undersized youth of 21, was one; and a former mate of his, Harry, was the other. For a long time Harry and Tom were as thick as the proverbial thieves. They walked together, drank together, and pursued sundry little amorous adventures together — were in fact "cobbers" of the deepest dye. Then Harry played a scurvy trick on his mate. He married Tom's mother. Tom's mother was a middle-aged, almost elderly, lady, and the mother of several grown-up children, and she also owned a little property. Tom got a big shock when he heard of Harry's little game, and the more he thought about it the madder he became. After his wrath had cooled somewhat, he began to meditate schemes of vengeance. Finally he conceived one that was absolutely brilliant. He would marry Harry's mother, who, as luck would have it, was a widow. She had had a large family, of whom two were still mere children; but that did not discourage Tom, who found joy in the rumor that she possessed a farm and a row of cottages. So, matrimonially intent, he pursued the mother of Harry and she
SUCCUMBED TO HIS PLEADING. In October last he led his blushing bride to the altar, and he became the father-in-law and the step-son of Harry, just as Harry was his father-in-law and step-son. For three days Tom was happy in his revenge and the society of his wife, who was also his grandmother. Then he cleared out. Nothing further happened until a few days ago, when Tom was brought before the Court and asked to pay for maintenance of his wife and her two children by the former marriage. Lawyer Hawkins, for "Mrs McCaughan" and Downie Stewart for Tom.
The complainant said her name was Sarah Ann Elizabeth McCaughan and she was proud of the fact that she had had a large family by her former marriage. She had married Tom five months ago, but he only lived with her three days. She had been residing on her son's farm at Half-Way Bush, and as her husband, after they had married, did not appear to have any home of his own, she took him with her out to the farm, where he was to live with her and help her sons.
Lawyer Stewart: Before you married this man, his mother had married your son? — Yes.
So each of the two men is his own stepfather? — (Loud laughter.)
Witness: Yes, and it's no laughing matter, either.
Sarah Ann went on to say that she merely resided on the farm and went out washing. No, she had not sought after her present husband. He had come round after her and he knew very well what he was doing when he asked her to marry him. Her sons had accepted their new dad without much ado. They did not look particularly glad about it, but they said nothing.
Mr Stewart said that it was plain that the young man had, in pique, gone off and married the mother of his stepfather, which could never have resulted in happiness for either party. The property referred to was undoubtedly m the woman's name, and it had not been shown that she was without adequate means of support.
Mr Widdowson, S.M., opined that the woman was no worse off than before, except that she had secured a husband.
Tom gave evidence. He consented to live with the elderly Sarah at the cottage after he had married her, but after staying with her for three days he got full up and cleared out. He could not hit it with the sons, who did not welcome him with open arms exactly, and who had a nasty way of looking at him and speaking to him. His wife had told him
HE WAS FOOLISH TO GO AWAY, but did not offer any strong objection. She had treated him throughout more as if he had been her son than her husband, which was annoying. He had secured a job on a dairy farm at St. Clair, where he got fifteen shillings a week and keep.
Evidence was given to show that Tom was a weakling. He suffered from asthma and bronchitis and other things, and could only work in dry weather.
His Worship said it was about as queer a case as he had struck. He could not under the circumstances very well make an order, he said; he thought the best thing Sarah Ann could do, having married the boy, was to take him home and nurse him.
The parties filed out of Court, while one magistrate, one clerk and seven lawyers sat round, staring dumbly into vacancy, trying to fix it in their several minds. If two young men marry each other's mother, what relation do they bear to each other, to their respective mothers, to their wives, and to themselves? -NZ Truth, 11/4/1908.
Thomas appeared in court not long after the "matrimonial muddle" charged with stealing a horse cover. He was called up for the army in early 1918 but seems not to have served.
CITY POLICE COURT
Tuesday, February 19. (Before Mr H. A. Young, S.M.)
Drunkenness. — Charles King was charged, on remand, with this offence. — Sub-inspector Mathieson said that expenses amounting to £1 16s having been incurred, the defendant's father asked that he be committed to the Roto Roa Home for a term. — Defendant was ordered to pay expenses to the amount stated, in addition be cab hire, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. He was also ordered to be detained at Roto Roa for 12 months.
Thomas Hector McCaughan pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness on the Dunedin railway platform, and also to a charge of behaving in a 'disorderly manner in a railway carriage to the annoyance of passengers. — Sub-inspector Mathieson said the guard found it necessary to remove the accused from the train at Burnside. When put off the train he tried to reboard it, and narrowly escaped serious injuries. When the train returned from Mosgiel he got on board, and was arrested in Dunedin by Constable McCulloch. He appeared to be demented with drink — In reply to the magistrate, the accused said that he was a married man with no family. — On the first charge he was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, while on the second he was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment. -Otago Daily Times, 20/2/1918.
By 1934 Thomas McCaughan appears in court for the latest in a string of almost annual charges of drunkenness, and with violating a prohibition order made against him.
DEATHS
McCAUGHAN. — On October 30, 1943, at Dunedin, Sarah Ann, beloved wife of Thomas McCaughan; aged 85 years. "At rest." — Interred this day, Andersons Bay Cemetery. — Cole, and Son, funeral directors. -Evening Star, 1/11/1943.
McCAUGHAN (nee Thomas). — In loving memory of my dear Mother, Sarah Ann, who passed away October 30, 1943.
A wonderful nature, loving and kind, A beautiful memory left behind;
A helping hand, a heart of gold,, The dearest mother this world could hold.
— Inserted by her loving son, Albert, daughter-in-law, Rose, and' grandchildren. Michael and Rosetta.
McCAUGHAN (nee Thomas). — In fond memory of my dear Mother, who passed away on October 30, 1943.
’Tis sad but true, we wonder why, The best are always first to, die
— Inserted by her loving son, Charlie
McCAUGHAN (nee Thomas). — In loving memory of my dear mother, Sarah Ann who passed away October 30, 1943.
A wonderful mother, good and kind, Her equal on earth none could find;
For each of us she did her best, May God grant her eternal rest.
— Inserted by her loving daughter, Mary Ann. her son-in-law. Jim, and grandchildren, Mary, Jim, Charlie, and Ron (overseas). -Evening Star, 30/10/1944.
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