BIGAMY AND DESERTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 116, 25 May 1885, Page 4

BIGAMY AND DESERTION.

A Heartless Dunedin Man In Melbonrno*

A heartless case of wife desertion and subsequent bigamy was heard lately at the Melbourne Police Court, occupying the Bench tho greater part of the Jay. The accused was Joseph Francis Kinggate, formerly of Dunedin, New Zealand, and lately of Mary-street,. Richmond, where he was arrested on the 7th ult. On tho 10th January, 1882, he married a girl named Norah Smith, who was then chambermaid in the Union Hotel, kept by William Clarko Armstrong, Dunedin. The latter attended tho wedding, and signed his "name in tho book of the registrar. Soino time aftorwards Kinggate brought his wife and one child to Melbourne, and took lodgings in a house in Rokebystreet, Collingwood. Here it was observed by Mrs Kinggate's sister, who went to stay with them, that the married pair did not appear to live very happily together. On more than one occasion Kinggate told his wif o and her sister that he would destroy the marriage certificate and seek another wife. Seme time laet year Kinggate and his wife and child were living at Footecray, and whilst there he became acquainted with a girl named Johanna Fredrica Mehrten, who was employed as a servant at the Station Hotel. To this girl, who was about 20 years of age, ho introduced himself as a single man, and to prevent her knowledge that he was already married.he removed his wife to Hotham. Tlion he gave out his intention to proceed to Sydney, telling hie wife that he would shortly after bis arrival Bond for her. He gave her on his departure tho sum of ss, eaying it was all he bed; and, although the unfortunate woman was approaching her confinement, Kinggate left her without any means of support whatever, and proceeded secretly to Footseray. For several months, Mrs Kinggate could get no tidings of her husband's whereabouts. As she was totally destitute, the neighbours gave her somo little assistance to help her along, and inquiries were set on foot to ascertain what nad become of her husband. It was (ben discovered that he had gone through the form of marriage with Johanna Mohrlen before the Presbyterian clergyman at Richmond, where he was living with tliis girl as man and wife. Whon arrested on a charge of deserting his wifo, ho had the effrontery to deny his former marriage, foolishly believing that in the absonce of the certificate it could not be provod. The police authorities sent to Dunedin, and brought over Charles C. Armstrong, tho hotel keeper, who was present at the marriage. A copy of the registrar's certificate was also produced; and hisinjured wife, although in very ill health, and scarcely able to stand, gave her evidence to prove tho marriage which the prisoner repudiated. The Key, Andrew Hardy, Charlotto Smith (sister of the prisoner's wife), Mary Jano Reid, and Isabel Gertrude Graham (the two last-named being witnesses of the second marriage), were also examined. The prisoner, in themostimpudent way, sought to damage the character of his second wife, and likewise her sister, a respectable domestic servant, by putting a series of abominable questions ; and he sought also to add to the injury he had already inflicted on his own wifo. He was committed for trial on both charges.