MARRIED COUPLE ARRESTED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7831, 25 June 1909, Page 1

MARRIED COUPLE ARRESTED.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 24. Colin Hector: Kempton and Virginia Kempton, a young married couple, appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr VV. G. Riddell, S.M., on two separate informations. The male defendant:- ; was-.charged with having Imowingly and wilfully ; made a false declaration on. the 15th April, for the purpose'of procuring a registrar's certificate, under "The Marriage Act, 1908." The. charge against the female defendant was that on the 15th April she wilfully made a certain false statement touching a particular required to be known and registered under the Marriage Act. ' Chief Detective Broberg, who prosecuted, asked that the cases be treated together. The request was granted. Mr Wilford defended. Thomas Wiliason said that Virginia Marion i Kempton was his daughter. Her age was about 18, as shown by the birth certificate produced. Kempton asked witness if he might walk with his.daughter. Witness acquiesced, and a little later defendant > asked-, if he might marry her. Witness replied that he considered that they had not known one another long enough,, and he advised that they should wait until Labour Day. In a few days, however, Kempton informed him that they were married. Witness had never given his consent. He thought that neither defendant was exactly aware of the female defendant's age. Part of witness's own marriage certificate was false. Gilbert Graham Hodgkins ,Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, stated that the two defendants called at his office on the,< 15th May. Kempton supplied the" particulars under, the Marriage Act. He stated that the female defendant was 21 .jt-ars of age. The name of the father of the girl was given by him as Thomas Wiliason. Witness produced; the; book; signed and attested^ by him.i After the supplying, of the: particulars,-'which were •read over to both defendants," the marriage was solemnised. Virginia; Kempton gave her ; father's namevas: Thomas Wiliason, ahcl her mother's name as Katherine Wiliason, nee Doyle. Detective Abbott stated that when he atr rested Kempton the female defendant said, "It was my fault, I, told him I was 21." At the time they 'were on the point of leaving for Sydney, actually being detained on the boat. Defendants pleaded "Not guilty," and were committed to the Supreme Court for trials Bail in the case of Colin Kempton was fixed in one surety of £50. Bail was allowed Virginia Kempton in her own bond of £50. . •