RUNAWAY MARRIAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1916, Page 2

RUNAWAY MARRIAGE.

WITH A GIRL OF SEVENTEEN. HUSBAND UNDER ARREST. CHARGE OF FALSE DECLARATION. The sequel to a runaway marriage came before the Police Court this morning, when Albert J. Westbury, a man f.bour 30 years of age, was charged that on March 22 he knowingly and wilfully made a false declaration to the Registrar of Marriages at Auckland, by declaring that Cissy Meyer was 21 years of age. The chief detective. Mr. P. McMahon, stated to the magistrate (Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M.), that accused for almost two years kept company with a girl at Te Awamutu. He frequently visited the girl's home, and chatted with her mother and her brother. The brother warned Westbury that his sister was a very young girl, considerably under 21 years of age. On the representations of the mother and brother accused agreed to go away; and remain away until the girl was older. lie went away, and the girl cleared out from home, and she and accused were married at the registrar's office in Auckland, accused making a declaration that the :rirl was 21 years of age.

Caroline Meyer, widow, stated that she lived at Kiki, Te Awamutu. He daughter Cissy had been keeping company with accused, and witness had objected to a suggestion of marriage from him, stating that the girl was too Witness put in a birth certificate showing that the girl would not be IS years of age until next Thursday. After witness had declined to sanction the marJriage the girl, who had been employed at an office in Te Awamutu. cleared out. and married accused. Accused knew the girl when she was going to school.

Henry Peter Meyer, son of the previous witness, stated that about 12 months ago, at the request of his mother, he spoke to Westbury about the girl, stating that she wasn't then 17 years of age, and that AVestbury should be ashamed of himself to go with a girl against her mother's wishes. Witness suggested that Westburj- should go away for a year or two and leave the girl alone meantime. Westbury agreed, and made some remark about going to the Sounds, in the Blenheim district, to wait till he could get sanction for the marriage. When accused first went with the girl she wore short dresses, and her hair down.

Thomas Culpan. Registrar of Marriages, produced the declaration made by accused that the girl was 21 years of age, and etated that the parties were married by him in Auckland on March 22.

Accused, who pleaded " Not guilty," was committed to the Snpreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in one surety of :£ioa