YOUNG WOMAN DUPED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 19

YOUNG WOMAN DUPED.

MARRIED A CRIMINAL VTTFE'S TERRIBLE DISCOVERT. PETITION'S FOR RELEASE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. A remarkable story of the alleged duping of a young woman into marriage by a habitual criminal was unfolded in a petition by Mildred Elaine Smyth, of Manurewa, praying Parliament to pass a bill to dissolve her marriage with Maurice James Walkinjjton Smyth. A bill has been drafted and taken charge of by the Hon. G. F. C. Campbell, entitled, "The Mildred Elaine Smyth Divorce Bill, an act to dissolve the marriage of Mildred Elaine Smyth with Maurice James Walkington Smyth, an habitual criminal." It sets forth that Mildred, at the age of eighteen, married Smyth. who described himself as a company promoter at her fathers house in Manurewa, she believing him to be a respectable, lawabiding citizen; that in August, 1922, Smyth was convicted in Christchurch of arson, sentenced to five years' imprisonment, and declared an habitual criminal: whereas Smyth, at various times hetween 1911 and 1922, was convicted on fourteen separate charges of false pretences; that he was also convicted of other crimes committed in New Zealand, and sentenced to lengthy tennis: that he was convicted of arson within one month of his marriage, and, whereas Mildred married Smyth in good' faith, relying on his representations, not knowing his criminal record, etc., the "marriage shall he, and the same is hereby dissolved." In her petition Mildred declares that she first met Smyth at Rotokuhu, near Reefton, and they became engaged, thereafter marrying at Manurewa. As stafted, Smyth was arrested and convicted of arson at Kaikoura within one month. Petitioner had since discovered he was a criminal well known to the police as James Walkington Smyth, alias Samuel Vane, alias Tom Barr, alias M. Preston, alias Houghton, alias Jones, alias Gibbs, alias Kane, alias Farquhar, alias James. When she married him she was quite I unaware- that he had ever committed a crime. He was a man of very good appearance, and represented himself as possessing means. He posed as a man of strong religious beliefs, being a member of the Plymouth- Brethern. Petitioner visited him in gaol some considerable time after hi 3 conviction, being even then unaware of his. past record, hut was constrained to discontinue her visits owing to his conduct. He informed her that he was going to insist on the resumption of marriage relations upon his release, and would never allow her a divorce. She felt it impossible to resume marriage relations, and so prayed Parliament for divorce. -

The feeling is that the bill will not pass the Legislative Council, as it would establish a __ precedent and convert Parliament into a Divorce Court. One *Wk-*m~-"e«S»-" defers"- the House of Representatives some years ago, and was rejected. The opinion is expressed that the remedy is to aanend the Act go as to allow divorce where a husband or wife has been imprisoned for three years or upwards.