LONG TRAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 9

LONG TRAIL.

BIGAMIST ARRESTED.

CLAIMED BY FOUR "WIVES."

ASTONISHING RECORD,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, April 22,

Although overshadowed.somewhat by the search for the suspect wanted in connection with the double murder at Moorebank, the trailing and arrest of a handsome Englishman who has eluded the police of Australia for IS months Is regarded by the Police Department as of considerable importance. He has been charged nnder a little-used section of the Crimes Act involving illicit relations with a woman under false pretences. His record is an amazing one. It started in 1912, when he came to Australia and joined the Royal Australian Navy. He served in the cruiser Sydney at the time of the sinking of the German raider Emden at Cocos Island. On his discharge he married, and became the father of two children. After three years he disappeared, and was found in the company of a 14-year-old girl, with whom he had gone through a form of marriage. He was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour on a charge of bigamy, and while in gaol he was divorced by his wife. After his release he married the girl and lived with her for a few months. Then he disappeared again. The police again found him, this time living with a woman with whom he had gone through a form of marriage. Further inquiries revealed that he had "married" two other women.. When he was arrested he was claimed by three "wives" in addition to his legal wife, the girl with whom he had become involved originally. Absconded from BaiL He was remanded on bail on charges ! >f bigamy, but he absconded, and for 18 'onths eluded the police of every State, "lis description was sent into every State, and the police trail led from New 5 s utth Wales to Victoria, then to V'est Australia. He boarded a pearlr > lugger, : which made the trip r„und the northern coast of Australia

to Cooktown. Police were waiting on the wharf when the lugger berthed, but the wanted man was not aboard. He had been landed, at his own request, at Thursday Island, and from there came to Queensland by a different craft. This week a constable at Kyogle, on the north coast of New South Wales, was collecting names for the electoral rolls when he saw the man. He recognised him from the photographs and description which had been posted in the police station, and arrested him on the spot. He has been charged under a section of the Crimes Act which has never been used before. The charge alleges that he had illicit relations with a woman under false pretences. It is estimated that in his efforts to escape from the arms of the law, the arrested man travelled 15,000 miles.