THE AMY BOCK CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7825, 18 June 1909, Page 4

THE AMY BOCK CASE.

ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE

DUNEDIN, June 17. In the Divorce Court this morning, before Mr Justice Williams, Agnes Ottoway applied for annulment of her I marriage with. Amy Bock. Mr Solomon said the circumstances of the marriage were well known.. Respondent posed as a man, and the ceremony was performed between the parties. Almost immediately afterwards it was discovered that respondent had been guilty of a heartless trick, m consequence of which petitioner had been placed m a very humiliating position. She now asked for a decree of the Court for annulity of the marriage. It was not absolutely necessary, m a sense. Petitioner, if she chose to get married again, woujd be at liberty to do so. His Honour: Of course 6he would. Mr Solomon: But authorities are clear that it is very desirable that proceedings should be taken. His Honour: I can see it might be desirable to have some declaration ; there have been cases of the kind. Mr Solomon said there was one that came before his Honour himself. The details wore not the samo, but the salient features were. It was a case heard some eight years ago, and was that of a woman who had married another woman. The extraordinary part of that case was that the parties had lived together for seven or eight years, at the end of which time an application came before his Honour for annulity of the marriage. The circumstances of this application were m no Way different to the case of a bigamous marriage. , , r.:" His Honour:' This is a marriage solemnised between Agnes Ottoway arid a person asserting himself as a man, and calling himself Percival Carl Redwood. There is a marriage, and it appears on the register that she was married to him. I think yon are quite right to have a decree of annulity. Evidence was given by the petitioner, Chief Detective Herbert, and Agnes Simpson (gaol matron). • His Honour then granted a decree of annulment.