BOY AND GIRL MARRIAGE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 99, 21 January 1926, Page 6

BOY AND GIRL MARRIAGE

A TROUBLOUS EPISODE

By Telegraph.—PbEss Association

Auckland, January 20,

The first troubles in the matrimonial venture of an eighteen-year-old Aucklander who married a girl of sixteen some three months ago, drew to a close ill the Supreme Court this morning, when the couple faced Air. Justice Stringer, having pleaded guilty to making a false declaration under the Alarnage Act. The pair were not represented by counsel and were dumb. The Judge turned to the Crown Prosecutor for assistance.

“I understand that no real and proper blame attaches to these young people,” said Air. V. R. Aleredith. “Chief-Detective Cummings states that they are getting on quite) happily. No moral wrong has been done.” The facts of the case were that the bov had married the girl because she had intended leaving home owing to unhappiness. He. thought that it would be best for him to give her the protection by marriage. Fearing to ask the consent, of their parents, the couple gave their ages to the registrar of marriages as 22 and 21. They ’eft Auckland and returned after an absence of some weeks to be reconciled to the girl’s people, with whom they are now living.

Air. Justice Stringer agreed with the probation officer that in the circumstances it was a comparative!v venial offence. “Possibly had you bad more knowledge of the law,” he said, “You would have known that where for any reason a parent refuses to give consent a Judge of the Court could act in that capacity and give consent. However, you sought a different method. No harm has been done to anvone. except that you are both exceptionally young to start out in married life. However, that js done now and can't be helped.. You have put the Crown to some little expense, of course, and for that I am going to fine you 'los. The girl will be discharged.” The Judge thought it a reasonable case in which to order the suppression of the names.