A STRANGE CASE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13474, 14 July 1909, Page 5

A STRANGE CASE.

CURIOUS ALLEGATIONS IN o COURT.

A men named Thomas Long made his way into a house occupied by John -Moody and others in Smollett street. Sydenham, on July sth, very much •igainst their will, and as the resuit ot a complaint to the police. was ejected, and locked up. He came be fore the Court yesterday morning, and created a surprise by asserting that he wile tho lawful husband of the woman who was residing in the same house, as Moody. This was strenuously denied, and the matter remains to be cleared up. Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., was on tho Bench. Long was charged with breaking a pane of glass in Moody , s house, and with having been on the premises without lawful excuse. He admitted breaking the window, but denied the second charge. Moody, it! the course of his evidence, said accused called at bis house at 11 p.m. on Monday, and asked for a bed. Witness told him to go away, but he would not leave the premises. Later he walked along the verandah and broke a window in a bedroom occupied by Mrs Dransfield and her daughter. The woman began to scream, and witness took them to his bedroom, where they stayed while ho went for the police. On returning with Constables Baird and Golding, they found accused had entered the house," and was lyin<4; on a bed in a back room smoking a cigarette.

To Sub-Inspector McGraith :-Accused had visited the house on Sunday, and had had a meal there. Witness told him'distinctly he -would not have him about the place. The house originally belonged to Mrs Dransfield, and witness bought it from her. He had boarded with her at the house prior to entering into negotiations with her for the purchase of the property. To accused: He did not mention anything to accused about marrying Mrs Dransfield, but accused said to him that if he would lend him £10 ho (accused) would marry her and take her away.

Mrs Dransfield said she had known accused for years, and was not marriod_ to him. She saw accused break a window, and get into tho room. She did not give him any authority, and he had no right to be on the premises. He visited the house on Sunday, and Moody allowed him to stay for a while, and gave him a meal.

To accused: She did not marry him in Wellington. "Talk sense," she remarked.

Tho Magistrate (to accused): What dj you mean by this marriage? Accused: I married that woman six or seven years ago in the Registry Office at Wellington, and she has been passing since as Mrs Dransfield. Witness: I never went through a form of marriage with him.

Constable Baird said that about 11.25 p.m. on the date mentioned he wont to Moody's house and found , accused sitting on a bed in tho backroom smoking a cigarette. He appeared excited, but he was sober. On the way to tho station he said he would kill Mrs Dransfield. Hβ also said ho had been married to her in Wellington.

Sub-Inspector McGrath said that he had accused medically examined while at Lyttelton, and the doctor certified that ho was sane. , ■ The Magistrate, in reply, to accused; said ho woulc' give him. a remand, in. order that he might test tho etatement in regard to the marriage.

Accused said that if ho could got clear of the woman—get a divorce — he would bo cli right. He could earn good money, and could , get a far better woman than she was. She was his wife by law, and after she left him she went as Mrs Dransfield. She came to Christchurch with Dransfield. In reply to questions, accused said William Burnett and Mrs William Burnett wero x>resont at the wedding. Mrs DtansfieJd gave the name of Eugenic Cavanagh to tho registrar. . *. TifiS-Magistrate: must bo Borne mistake; her name was Eugenic Etavanoau. I do not see how it will help you with this case if you prove bigamy. However, I will remand you till. July 20th, and will teke bail in one surety of- £10.. • . .; ";