A DOUBLE BIGAMY.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DOUBLE BIGAMY.

Melbourne, 30th August. A singular double case of bigamy is reported from Sandhurst, in this colony. In tho year 1873, a young man, eighteen years of ago, named William Ponder, a resident of Sandhurst, became acquainted with a young woman named Harriett© Bell, a native of Sandhurst, and three years his senior. The acquaintance grow into love, and led to marriage. For some timo they liv«d happily togother, and had one child; but tho courso of domestic happiness was broken. Tho difficulties between them grew ao strong that they eventually separatod, tho wife leaving Sandhurst and taking tho child with her. Ponder formed an acquaintance with another young woman named Catherino Mary Purtell, 22 years of ago, and was married to her at St. Killans, by the Rev. Fathor O'Connoll, on tho 15th December, 1884, undor tho naino of Win. Thomas Ponder. From that time to the present thoso two havo lived comfortably together at Qually Hill, near the cometory, he following his occupation as a miner and shoemaker. There were two children of the Becond marriage, but the oourso of domestic felicity has again boen brokon— by whom is not stated. No doubt some friond has proved false and revengeful, as yostorday Ponder was arrosted at his residence by detectives on a ohargo of bigamy. Thus ends the first act in this drama in humble life. The fortunos of tho first wife had to bo traced out, and during tho last week Detective Mahoney was busily engaged in that work with such success that he discovered her to be living at East Brunswick, married to a quarryman named M'Ginnis, by whom sho had two children, tho ohild by tho first husband also living with her. A soaroh in the RegistrarGeneral's office showed that her second marriage was celebrated by tho Rev. A. McVean on tho 2nd June, 1884, being some timo boforo tho secorid matrimonial alliance of her firßt husband. Detective Mahoney, as in duty bound, laid an information against her for bigamy, and sho was arrosted yesterday. Thus a second home was broken up, Pondor, on being arrested, cxprossod an opinion that it was a pity, when he and his first wife wero satisfied irf their now. relations, that they should havo beon disturbed by the authorities.