TO GET MORE MONEY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21813, 19 June 1936, Page 16

TO GET MORE MONEY

UNEMPLOYED MAN AND WOMAN CHARGED

WENT THROUGH FORM OF MARRIAGE

(FKBSa ASSOCIATION TBLKORAU.)

AUCKLAND, June 18,

An unusual story was unfolded in the Magistrate’s Court when a single man and a married woman admitted having gone through a form of marriage in order to have enough money for the woman to secure l a divorce from her husband.

The accused were Mrs Florence May, 23 years of age, and John Rodger, 28 years of age. John William May, who is on sustenance, said he had returned to live with his wife during last week. They were married in September, 1931, and in February, 1935, his wife obtained a separation order at Thames. He had since paid her £1 a week as maintenance. Last year he had visited his wife in a flat in Auckland after having ascertained that she was living there under the name of “Mrs Rodger.” Rodger had arrived and the three had had tea together. The witness added that he intended to stand by his wife, irrespective of the outcome of the proceedings. Both pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sen-, tence.

Rodger pleaded guilty to a further charge of making a false statement to the Unemployment Board, declaring that he was a married man.

A detective said that as a result of being paid as a married man Rodger had obtained sums totalling £26 10s in excess of what he was entitled to.

Rodger was remanded for sentence on this charge until after he has been dealt with in the Supreme Court on the other charge.