COMPLICATED BIGAMY CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 6762, 29 November 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

COMPLICATED BIGAMY CASE.

An extraordinary case of bigamy has been heard before the Manchester stipendiary. A man named Stott gave his wife into the custody of the poUce on the above charge, and, from the evidence of the prosecutor, it appeared that the parties were married on June 4, 1880, at St. Simon's Church, Lower Broughton. It was alleged that the prisoner had a husband then living, named Robert Thornton Fairfoul, to whom she was married at the Manchester Cathedral in June, 1879. For the defence it was now contended that the marriage of the prisoner with Fairfoul was illegal, as he had a wife then living, whose maiden name was Hewitt, and consequently the woman's marriage with Stott was valid. But further evidence was called, from which it appeared that Fairfonl's marriage with Hewitt was not legal, since she had been previously married, and her first husband is still living. The upshot of all this conflicting evidence, should it prove true, would be that Fairfoul's marriage with the prisoner would be valid, and her marriage with Stott, the prosecutor, illegal. The case was remanded, in order to clear up the statement as to the woman Hewitro first marriage by the.production of her husband in the witness-box.