ATTEMPTED BIGAMY

Evening Star, Issue 17329, 17 April 1920, Page 9

ATTEMPTED BIGAMY

COMMITTED for sentence.

la the Police Court yesterday afternooii ; , i°- vr CllVo Humphreys, a young- marmd man, was charged that, on or about Marco ol last, lie cud attempt to commit bigamy by arranging to go through a form oi marriage with Irene Louisa Erridmi. liio young woman gave evidence that accused asked her about, New Year time to marry her. Her mother asked him to wait until she (Miss Erridge) waa 21, bub | iC re P"cd that lie wanted her as soon as lie could get her. The date of the marriage was fixed for March 31. Her mother epoko to accimed on Saturday, March 27 saying that he was a married man. He strongly denied the _ accusation, and' witness continued making arrangements for her marriage right up to March 30. Accused was arrested at her mothers house. Just as the detectives wore taking hiui ' away from the house lie dropped the wedding ring on her lap. Helen Ramage Erridge. the mother; said that when she accused Hmphrevs of bein'l- - married man ho said : “T am not mar" ried, and anyone to say that I am married. ’ She accused him with gom<>under a false name, saving “ Your name is Humphreys.” He said’: “ I am not Humphreys.’ She brought two young ladies to the_ house' to confront him and say that his name was Humphreys, and ho denied it to their face. The Rev. E. A. Aselsen said the accused called at his house on March 25, and asked him to perform a marriage service at tho residence of Mrs H- R. Erridge, at North* YalSey. All 'the papers had heed hi led in by the registrar, and the service was fixed for 2.30 p.m. on March 31. Rhim-h Perry gave evidence to the effect that the accused called at the photographic studio where she was employed, and made arrangements to have a wedding group •photographed on March 51. He cave tho name of “Mr S. Thompson,” and paid' ab ■deposit of 10s. t Jacob Helm key, pastrycook, stated that ( the accused ordered a wedding cake frem j him for delivery to tho Normnnby Hotel: on March 51. The order was given a week previously to this date. The coke waai ■delivered to the hotel, but wan returned ■to witness. Detective Kelly said that Detective Beer and he arrested the accused nb the bouse of Mrs Erridge at Norrnanby on, the evening of March 30 on a. warrant foi’l failing to comply with the terms of an •' order'Vor tho maintenance of his wife and' ehik! in A dhngton. He said his name’ was Sidney Thompson, and for some time strongly denied that his name was Hum-; I'hreys. Subsequently he admitted Ins' identity, and that lie had a wife and • child in Wellington. Ho further admitted '■ that _ho had made arrangements to get * married to Miss Erridge at her mother’s ' house the following afternoon. After leaving the house he said: “I want that girl, and I’ll get her after I am free.” ‘While they were at the Norrnanby Hotel a wedding cake arrived for the accused, and witness advised the man to take it •back. Accused had borrowed a black suit ‘to got married in, and it was at the hrido’s mother’s house nicely pressed. The accused pleaded guilty, and wag committed to tie Supreme Court for tence.A charge ox failing to comely with an order of tho court for the maintenance of his wife and child was-adjourned sine die.