A Melbourne Scandal.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 219, 8 November 1888, Page 3

A Melbourne Scandal.

The preliminaries of a grave scandal, which will be investigated in another Court shortly, were made public in Melbourne a week or two ago, when Samuel Gough Cook and Francis McMahon were charged with unlawfully assaulting Arthur Horton Pritchard. The incidents leading up to the charge are rather peculiar. Pritchard, who is an half-caste Indian, employed as a ticket taker at one of the theatres, was on the afternoon of October 6 out with Mrs Cook, the wife of one of the accused. While silting on a boulder in a quiet spot off Sydney road, the couple were surprised by the appearance of Mr Couk and a companion. While Pritchard was being belabored the wife made her escape, and it is hard to say how her companion would have fared had not some people come to his assistance. One of these, knowing nothing of the circumstances of the case, gave Cook and McMahon in charge for assaulting Pritchard. Mr Cook is the well-known sporting man, who owns The Charmer, Remus, The Yeoman, Cyclops, Dividend, and other horses. He had his suspicions of his wife’s fidelity, and on the afternoon in question, when he was supposed by his wife to be at the Hunt Club races, he followed her and Pritchard, with the result named. Pritchard and Mrs Cook, it is stated, met in India, where she was playing in an opera company. She has only been married a few years, and is young and attractive. Pritchard, it is said, was married only three weeks ago. When the charges were called on, Pritchard said at the time the assault was committed he was with Mrs Cook, who is a married lady.—“ I had no right to be with her. Two men came up and one assailed me. Of course he was quite justified in doing so. I got what I deserved.” Sergeant Bass—Thea I understand you don’t wish to press the charge. Witness—No. The cnarge was then withdrawn. Proceedings have been commenced by Mr Cook in the Divorce Court, the petition having been accepted by the Court a few days since.