CHANGE OF NAME'

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14580, 5 December 1912, Page 5

CHANGE OF NAME'

CASE OF ALLEGED BIGAMY.

Charged with alleged bigamy at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, William Thomas Burbury pleaded not guilty. The charge alleged that the accused, knowing Marion Cobeldick to bo a married woman, did go through the form of marriage with her at Dunedin on July 11th, 1911. Mr Donnelly appeared for the accused. , William Cobeldick said he was married to Marion Walker at Wekingtcn on May 16th, 1873, and ho identified, his wife in Court. Witness knew tho accused, whom he last saw about 1901 or 1902. • . Cross-examined; by Mr Donnelly, witness said he left bis wife in 1896 or 1897. Frank O'Connell, a private detective, said that ho first became acq v aim ted with tho accused in 1906. From that time until 1910 tho accused visited witness's house at least once a month, and at times Wi.liam Cobeldick was discussed. About the-beginning of I_oß they talked of Cobeldick, and witness said that he thought Cobeldick was in England. In 1911 witness met tho accused and asked him if it was a fact that he had married Marion Cobeldick, because, if so, ho would get into trouble. Ernest Cobeldick, a son of Marion and William Cobeldick, said he had known the accused since about 1893. In corroborating the evidence of the previous witness. Cobeldick said his father was frequently spoken of and accused often asked where he was. In 1909 witness had a conversation with the accused as to the whereabouts of witness' father. Detective Eade stated that on November 21st he interviewed the accused as to his marriage with Marion Cobeldick. Accused said that he had married her at Dunedin last year. Burbury said that he had always thought she was a widow and he had never thought it necessary to ask her that question. This closed the case for the prosecution. The accused was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £30.