Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal and Western Advertiser 16 May 1923
Page 4 Column 5
AFFILIATON.
Annie THRESHER, single woman, of 2, Gower's-terrace, Staplegrove, Taunton, summoned Reginald STYLES, a butler, of 20, Eaton-square, London, to show cause. &c.
Defendant did not appear in answer to the summons.
Mr. G. P. CLARKE appeared on behalf of the complainant and gave the facts of the case, which were briefly that STYLES was introduced to Miss THRESHER by her sister on the 12th March, 1922, and for several evenings the couple went out together and intimacy took place. STYLES admitted his responsibility to Miss THRESHER, and within three weeks he went away to London. He was a butler in London, and he had written to them asking for time to come down to Taunton to defend the action. That was two months ago, and he considered that if the defendant intended to defend himself he would have been present that day.
Complainant stated that defendant first gave her his name as PRIDDLE, of Bridgwater, and later as Jack JOHNSON, but subsequently she found out his correct name to be Reginald STYLES. The child was born on the 21st December, 1922.
Mr. G. P. CLARKE read a letter which had been received from STYLES, and in which defendant wrote that he would not be able to attend the Court. He was earning £3 10s a week, and suggested that Miss THRESHER had been out with other men. STYLES had had two months in which to prepare his case, and as he was earning £3 10s a week he could easily afford 18s railway fare to come to Taunton.
The Bench decided that defendant should pay 10s a week to the complainant from the birth of the child, and also granted Mr. CLARKE's application for an advocate's fee.