TANGLED RELATIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 17, 31 October 1929, Page 7

TANGLED RELATIONS.

A BIGAMY CHARGE FAILS. (Special to the “Guardian.”) AUCKLAND, October 30. Tangled relations arising from marriage ceremonies were described in tlie Supreme Court, when Minnie Clamest IJorvocks was charged with bigamy and making a false declaration to the liegistrar of Marriages at Auckland that she was not married. The chaiges arose from a- form, of marriage which accused went through with George Lai 1 at Auckland in- 1921 whereas she bad previously married M dhaiu Arthui Meredith in England in 1912. Both Meredith and accused had been married prior to 1912. The death of accused’s first husband was not disputed, but whereas Meredith (now a- tailor in Christchurch) stated he had learned of nis first wife’s death some years before marryin rr accused, the defence was raised that accused had leason to believe on Meredith’s own admission that Jus first wife was living at the time of the second marriage ceremony. Meredith, in evidence denied lie told accused his former wife was living. Accused was described as a s2iinster when she married him, and ho was tnen unaware of her previous irarnage. He went to the war with the Twentieth Reinforcement, and on returning ho inquired for lier without success, and did not see her again until the present 2>roceedings started. Accused in the witness box affirmed the accuracy of statements which she had 'made to the police. She said that while awa-v with the Expeditionary Force Meredith wrote saying lie was having a- good time in England with his wife and "had no intention of returning to New Zealand. Meredith’s mother had told her after the marriage that he had a wife living in. England, and Meredith had confirmed, this, hut said tliat because of something she had done his wife had no claim on him. When she married Earl in 1921, she believed the 1912 ■ ceremony was not marriage, because Meredith then unci a wife living. Accused’s maiden name was Horrocks. ; , , Tho jury returned a verdict of not guilty.