Hi Jeremy, whilst researching my Sheffield BINNS family I came across this article in the Times Newspaper. Sadly, I have not managed to make a connection to this branch of the family but I have collected some information about them if anyone else is connected. Apologies for the size of the article. best regards Kathy Wirral The Times, Thurs 12 Oct 1882 SINGULAR MARRIAGE A marriage of a very extraordinary character took place yesterday at Sheffield between a local solicitor, Mr. E. Knowles Binns, a member of the Sheffield Town Council and Sheffield Board of Guardians, and Mrs. Ada Caroline Milne, widow of Tunbridge-wells. Two months ago Mrs. Milne, who possesses a fortune of £18,000, advertised in the Matrimonial News her wish to again get married. The advertisement fell into the hands of Mr. Binns, who entered into correspondence with the lady. An appointment was made, and Mr. Binns met the lady at Tunbridge-wells. The interview was interrupted by the appearance of Mr. F. Liebert of Tunbridge-wells, the brother of the lady, who, believing that his sister was not responsible for her actions, as she had already been confined in an asylum, took energetic measures to defeat the intentions of Mr. Binns. At his hands Mr. Binns received summary chastisement. He was thrashed, and kicked out of the house, and the thrashing was repeated at the railway station. Mr. Binns, returning to Sheffield, wrote to the lady for "some explanation why your brother should have thought fit to insult me in the way he did," and received a stern reply from the brother himself, who opened the letter. Mr. Binns, however persevered in his intentions. Early this month the lady, who had taken up her residence at a convent at Folkestone, suddenly left and went to Sheffield, staying at the Victoria Station Hotel under the name of Mrs. Scott, of New York. The lady being a Roman Catholic, Mr. Binns proposed to be married first at St. Mary's, Norfolk-row, and afterwards at the parish church. Canon Walshaw, of St. Mary's, however, who had been in communication with the lady's relatives, declined to act, and a "dispensation" from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds, which had been obtained was withdrawn. Last Saturday Mr. Binns waited upon Canon Blakeney, vicar of Sheffield, and yesterday morning he again called at am early hour to obtain the promised licence. The vicar, who was unaware until Thursday evening of the peculiar circumstance of the case, urged Mr. Binns to make a settlement on the lady. He said he would not be coerced by anyone, and that in consequence of the rough treatment he had received from the brother nothing should induce him to make a settlement, The question of the lady's sanity was mentioned, whereupon Mr. Binns produced three medical certificates all pronouncing her sane, and as he was prepared to make the declaration necessary to be made before a licence could be obtained, the vicar had no option but to grant the licence. Mr. Liebert, hearing of his sister's contemplated marriage, came to Sheffield on Monday, taking up his quarters at the Victoria Station Hotel, and it is a curious circumstance that he occupied the bedroom immediately adjoining that of his sister without having any knowledge of her proximity. On Tuesday he was aware that an attempt would be made to have the marriage ceremony performed the next day, and he took steps to prevent it, A carriage and pair were in waiting at the church gates at 9 o'clock, and a number of men were employed for the purpose of forcibly preventing Mrs. Milne from proceeding with the marriage, the intention being to put her into the carriage and drive her away until such time as an injunction could be obtained restraining the marriage on the grounds of the lady not being in a fit and sound state of mind. Mr. Binns, however had taken effective steps to prevent a breach of the peace, there being nearly a score of constables present. On the lady alighting from the carriage which conveyed her to the church, her brother stepped forward and seized her by the arm, and asked her to go with him, but she refused. The police held Mr. Liebert back, and the lady then entered the church, chased by her brother as soon as he got free from the constable. Mr Binns, entered the church soon after, and the wedding ceremony proceeded quietly until the words "If any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak or else hereafter for ever hold his peace," Mr. Liebert then stepped forward and made a whispered statement, the purport of which was that the lady was of unsound mind, and that is time were granted he could prove the truth of his assertion. Canon Blakeney replied that Mr. Binns possessed medical certificates from three leading Sheffield practitioners, and that he was bound to proceed with the marriage unless "just cause" could be shown against it. Mr. Liebert repeated his remonstrances again and again, but in vain, and the ceremony was proceeded with. Mr. Liebert was very much affected, and leant his head on one of the pews weeping bitterly. The affair has created a great sensation in Sheffield, where Mr. Binns, owing to his public position and his standing as a solicitor, is very well known.

Kathy, Great Story....... Elaine in Ottawa. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.15 - Release Date: 5/22/2005

Hello Kathy What a story! But what happened next? Did they live happily every after or was the marriage a total disaster? Thanks so much for sending it in. Regards - Ann

Kathy, Got to agree with Elaine & Ann, what a cracking read. It's just a pity we'll never know how the marriage turned out. Best Wishes Jeremy ---------------------------------------------------- Outgoing Mail protected by: NORTON Internet Security 2004 Updated: 21st May 2005 ---------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: <Kathybinns@aol.com> To: <ENG-SHEFFIELD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 6:23 PM Subject: Re: [SHEFF] Family/Local History Stories & Surname Interests etc. Hi Jeremy, whilst researching my Sheffield BINNS family I came across this article in the Times Newspaper. The Times, Thurs 12 Oct 1882 SINGULAR MARRIAGE Kathy Wirral

A cracking story. I note from the Local Register that both EK Binns and Mrs Ada C Binns stood for election to the School Board in November 1882. They failed to get elected, coming 24th and 26th respectively out of 27 candidates (the top 15 being elected). She was one of only two women standing. She was clearly sane enough to be allowed to stand ! EK Binns stood for election to the council in November 1884, and failed again. Ada had died by 1891: (Sheffield South) Binns Edmund Knowles boarder Widr 44 solicitor YKS Sheffield 46 Howard St 1 12 3822 This is a boarding house. Hugh in Sheffield