HAMILTON SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 77, 31 March 1924, Page 7

HAMILTON SUPREME COURT.

welcome to judge McGregor. STRANGE BIGAMY CASE. (By Telegraph.—Owu Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. Mr. Jflstice "McGregor was given a cordial welcome by members of the bar on his first official visit to Hamilton since his elevation to the Bench. A desire was expressed on both sides for continuance of the cordial relationship which had always existed here hitherto between Bench and Bar. A young couple, Frederick William Page and Helena Maude Keefe, who last week pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to a charge of bigamy, came up for sentence. Mr. Strange, on behalf of prisoners, said both came from England. The girl arrived in "New Zealand recently under the domestic service immigration scheme, and the male defendant, a steward by occupation, came to the Dominion in 1921. His wife was a hopeless lunatic in an asylum in Australia, with little chance of recovery. The two accused became friendly, and, in order to save the girl's honour, the man married her, but not without first ascertaining that his wife was never likely to leave the asylum. The case was a most pathetic one, and had created a large amount of sympathy for the unfortunate young couple, who were very devoted to each other. The girl gave birth to a child a month ago, and the male defendant was anxious and willing to provide a home for both. His Honor said tfcs case was exceedingly painful, and it was difficult to know what to do with the two acccused. The Probation Officer had recommended probation, but it seemed for an offence of this kind to be of very little use. He did not feel called upon to send either to gaol, and ordered them to come up for sentence when called upon.