BIGAMY ALLEGED

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 248, 15 July 1932, Page 11

BIGAMY ALLEGED

Two Women Give Evidence MAN TO STAND TRIAL By Telegraph—Press Association. Hastings, July 14. At the Hastings Police Court this morning Jack Fletcher Beetson, alias John Beatson Fletcher, was charged before justices of the peace with having bigamously married Mary Evelyn Stone at Hastings in August, 1930, accused already having married Ivy Nicolson at Auckland in 1922. The evidence showed that accused's legal wife, who was 31 years of age, had one child by accused, and obtained separation, maintenance, and guardianship orders two years after her marriage and Intended to institute, but di . not institute, divorce proceedings against her husband. The woman with whom accused was alleged to have gone through the form of bigamous marriage gave evidence that she also had a child by accused, and until recently she was unaware that accused was already married. In evidence the legal wife stated that she had an offer of marriage in 1927, but the man whom she wished to marry had not enough money to pay for the necessary divorce proceedings. The other woman concerned stated that she was willing to marry accused if able to do so. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. To a charge of making a false declaration he also pleaded not guilty.

Mr. R. N. Martin. Mr. F. Egan, ami Mr. H. F. Barns, Christchurch: Mr. C. G. Macindoe and Mr. H. K. Jones, Auckland, ojra fit ths Midland Hot®L