CHARGED WITH BIGAMY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 95, 21 April 1906, Page 3

CHARGED WITH BIGAMY.

AM3 CO>IMTTTED FOB, TRIAL.

Before Mr. Dyer, S.M., at the Police Court this morning, the old man Peter Wilson was charged with having committed bigamy by going through a form of marriage with Anne Benson at Auckland on September 5, 1903, his lawful wife being then alive. Chief-Detec-tive Marsack prosecuted, the. accused being defended by Mr. C. J. Parr. Edmund Lyons, registrar of birth?, deaths, and marriages, said that the prisoner applied for a license on March 23, 1903, describing himself as a. widower. The marriage took place ai St. Matthew's Ohurcih, On Seoteniber 5 in the same year, accused applied for a license for marriage with Arrne Benson. In the opinion of witness the signatures in both cases were alike.

To the Magistrate: The second marriage took place at the house of the Rev. Win. Laycock, Wakefield-stred.

The Rev. Gillaru, of St.. Matthew's Church, said be performed the ceremony of marriage between accused and his ia-svful wife on March 28, 1903. To Mr. Parr: He bad no doubt whatever about the identity of the accused.

Anne Benson, a white-haired lady of advanced years, said she was married to the prisoner on September 5, 1903. They were married in a private house owned by the Congregational Church. The prisoner told her he was a. widower.

To Mr. Parr: He had been a good husband to her. No man could have been -kinder. He was a very hard-work-ing man.

Did he tell 3-ou that Bridget Motion had left him?— Yes, he said he had not been living with her for two and a-haif years. She knew Wilscn was a foreigner. He -was a Swede.

Mr- Marsack: Did you know that Bridget Motion was his former wife?— No, I understood she was only his housekeeper.

Detective MacMahon, deposed to having arrested accused on the 10th inst. When charged, accused replied, "I would not have, married "again, but my first wife left mc, and had been a-w'ay for three years, and I thought she was dead. I then married this -woman here." > Witness had known him for about 13 years. He was a. handcart' porter, plying near the railway station.

Upon being called upon to plead, the accused through Mr. Parr, pleaded not guilty, reserving his defence. He was accordingly committed to take his trial at the Supreme Court, bail being allowed in two sureties each of £50.. and accused's own recognisance of £ 100.