A PATHETIC HISTORY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 153, 16 March 1923, Page 4

A PATHETIC HISTORY

WOMAN IMPRISONED FOR BIGAMY COLLAPSES ON HEARING SENTENCE A pathetic, story cf iilness and unhappiness was unfolded in the Supreme Court yesterday, when Margaret Josephine Winders came before Mr., Justice Chapman, for sentence on a charge of bigamy, Mr. O. C. Mazengarb. who appeared for the prisoner, said that she was married in June, 1907. She had been treated anything but well by her husband. who taunted her with, her illhealth, and suggested that the marriage u as invalid as ho was already married in tho Islands. Her husband had left for the Islands and had' been absent for the better part of a year, having left her nothing. She had then turned to the man by whom, she already had a child. The suggestion of marriage with him had come from the man, and not from her. 'Almost destitute, she was convicted and discharged on a charge of theft before she went to Wanganui to marry him. She had known shs was doing wrong, but she had not appreciated tho magnitude of tho offence she had committed. Though she had met with such a series of misfortunes, she was far from being an adventuress, hut was known to be a .hard-working woman. The man was in 'Court and was prepared to stand by her and the child, and to marry her if she got her freedom. His Honour: Hdw is she to get her freedom ?

Mr. Mazengarb: The man. has left her 12 months without money, and has gone to the Islands, where he said ho was already married. Both she and the man with whom she committed bigamy are devoted to the child. It was difficult to say what should be dcue in such a case, counsel added, but lie asked that imprisonment be not inflicted, as the shock might prove disastrous to one in such weakened health. His Honour: I cannot hand her.over to the man at Wanganui. Mr. Mazengarb: She must have financial help for both herself and tho child. All her relatives and friends are in England, and she has no one to turn to here.

His Honour said he could not consider the case as one for probation, and inflicted a sentence of one month’s imprisonment, remarking that the prisoner would he well looked after.

The prisoner collapsed on hearing the sentence and had to be, carried out.