HIS IDEA

NZ Truth, Issue 1294, 25 September 1930, Page 8

HIS IDEA

Unusual Reason For

Perjury

NOT MARRIED

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) THE belief that he and a woman with ■*■ whom he was living:, though not m wedlock, were m the same legal position as a married couple has resulted m serious consequences for Edward Martin, a Kilbirnie laborer. It led him to make a false statement m the Wellington Maintenance Court recently when he was proceeded against for affiliation and maintenance orders m respect of an illegitimate child. While giving evidence on oath during those proceedings Martin said he had been married m October last, and because this statement was found to be false he was subsequently charged m the Magistrate's, Court with committing perjur.y. In giving evidence m respect of this case Harold John. Worthington, the third clerk of the Wellington Magistrate's Court, said that ' he was acting as clerk at a sitting of the Magistrate's Court on July 21 last when Martin was proceeded against for maintenance. Martin, said Worthington, admitted the paternity of the child,and with reference to his ability to pay maintenance stated that he was married m October last. He repeated that statement under cross-exami nation 5 . Sergeant W. Pender of the Kilbirnie police, said that he had interviewed Martin later and was informed by him that he had been married m October, and that Margaret McDonald was his wife. In a statement Martin made to Sergeant Pender, and which he signed, he said, "I thought the fact that Margaret McDonald and I. were living together as man and wife was the same as if we were married." When Martin appeared before the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, m the Supreme Court for sentence, Mr. P. Jackson, who represented him, said that he doubted whether the man had realised the seriousness of the offence when he committed it. "He was living with a woman," his Honor remarked, "and with his curious mentality he seems to have thought that he was justified m believing or saying that he was married to her. It might aJso be that he had m mind the shielding of the woman." His Honor adopted the recommendation of the probation officer and admitted Martin to probation for two years.

Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. For Children's Hacking Cough,*