ALLEGED BIGAMY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 179, 18 April 1918, Page 3

ALLEGED BIGAMY

A COMPLICATED CASE. Before Mr. W. G. Puddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court vr.sterday, Ada IJosina Goocli was charged that on March G, 1909, at Timaru, being already married to one Arlhiir Enstcrby Stokes, she did go through the form rf marriage with one George Cecil William Gooch, and George William Cecil ilooch was charged with going through a form of marrkige with Ada liosina Stokes, knowing her to be a- married woman Inspector Marsack prosecuted and Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for both accused. Arthur Easterly Stokes, dairy farmer, Mangaweka, was called, but before his evidence was taken Air.' O'Leary objected, contending that the -nan could not be called as a witness. The Magistrate noted the objection. Stokes said that he married Ada Posina Stokes in 190G, in Wellington, the marriage taking place at 2 o'clock in tho afternoon. Iu consequence of something he heard ho left his bride within two hours of the marriage, v-hich was never consummated. In 1911, in consequence of something he hoard, he went to Ashhurst and found both accused living together as man and wife He took proceedings in the Divorce Court and the decree nisi was made absolute on January 15, 1912 Between the' time he married the female defendant ind the time ho saw her in Ash burst he aever contributed anything towards her maintenance, and mver bothered as to her whereabouts Ada Lcpper, married woman, living at Petone, said (.he female defendant was her daughter. Early in 190G witness received a letter from her daughter in which she stated that she had married Arthur . Stokes. That letter tad been destroyed. She knew Arthur Stokes, who was her ncphtw. Lnter on her daughter went to Kaikoura, and about two years later, in 1909, witness got a letter from her from Timaru. Witness wrote and told her to come home, as Arthur Stokes was looking for her to get a divorce. She came home and Gooch came with her, 'They then went to live at Ashhurst. Gooch told her that he had married her daughter at the Registry Office at Timaru. Her daughter was present at the time. She told (hem she had the. marriage certificate with- Stokes, and Gooch n<ked her to destroy it. She was not present at her daughter's wedding with Stokos, or at the alleged wedding with -Gooch. William Charles Mason, clerk of tho Supreme Court, produced documentary evidence showing that Arthur E. Stokes obtained a divorce from Ada Eosina Stokos in January, 1912. Plain-Clothes Constable Vricklebnnk stated that he saw tie female accused on April G and charged her with having committed bigamy. She said that she expected it, as her mother had been talking about it. The male fecusfd was a hard-working man, and the reputation of the couple, .who resided in Petone, was excellent. Gooch had pirchased the house they were living in. There were two children, a boy and a girl. Both accused pleaded not guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in their own recognisances of .£SO each, i