GIVEN A CHANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1928, Page 9

GIVEN A CHANCE.

BIGAMIST RELEASED.

JUDGE'S DILEMMA.

SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE INVOLVED

Submitting that Charles Kemble Poole, who appeared in the Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Blair, this morning for sentence on a charge of bigamy, was flnxious to stand by the second woman in her trouble, Mr. Allan Moody applied for leniency for the prisoner. In the past, said counsel, Poole had borne an unblemished character.

"It is difficult to know what to do jn ft ease of your kind," said his Honor. "I have been very concerned about the matter, for there is the important question of the sanctity of marriage involved in it."

His Honor drew attention to the fact that he had to be careful, in passing sentence, that his decision did not have a revolutionary effect. Accused married in the first instance, possibly unwisely, and there might be something in what ho said that his wife was unfaithful to him. Accused's case was very different from many cases of a similar character, and there was absent the element that <* ny wrong had been done the second voman. There was absent the element of an innocent woman having been derived, and accused's fine record could not be overlooked. His action had been influenced by a sense of duty, rather than by an idea of doing wrong to anyone. In the circumstances Poole was given a chance and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within twelve months.