“MUCH MARRIED”

Evening Star, Issue 18812, 10 December 1924, Page 9

“MUCH MARRIED”

MAN WITH THREE WIVES. Just as a well-dressed man of prepossessing appearance was about to take, his departure from the dominion by the s.s. Remuera. which left Wellington for London on Wednesday last, ho was uitenoemted bv Dct-ctive Murray, oi tho M elfin,don police force, and, after a short, sharp conversation, was placed under arrest on a charge oi having made a false declaration in connection with the marriage which he had contracted wiih a young woman in New Zealand. After the interchange of a few words m the course oi winch the man admitted tnat some ot the suggestions put to him by tho detective “woro based on fact, he was escorted to the police station. Tho history of the man, as obtained by the police, shows tnat Joseph James Groone.Ue, to "use one of his many names, has had a. varied and interesting career, particularly in connection wilh_ his rela lions with the fnir sex. |t is alleged that, when nut posing as Groonette, ho took the name of '.bred Alfred llcwar, ami it is said that in other parts of tho world he is .known by let anothci name. In 1913 Groonette was a resident of Johannesburg, where, it is stated, lie was fairly well known. It is alleged that in that year he married a young woman named Fannv Thickborno, who, so far as tho police know, is tho real wife, and is still alive. Six years later saw Groonetto leaving the dustv streets of tho golden city, Lie veld, and tho karroo behind him, and taking steamer from cither Capo Town or Durban. Ho next appeared in London. Apparently the attractions .of the ladies of that city made their impressions upon Groonetto, for in 1919 lie is alleged to have united himself to a widow named Kosher. But the chills end snows of tho English winter seem to have driven him to a more equable dime, for, in his world travels, Groonette, or He war, was next seen in New Zealand.

Hero ho again exercised his blandishments to good purpose, for in July, 1924, ho is reported to have gone through the marriage ceremony with a young lady residing in Wellington, to whom, it is said, ho represented himself as single and a man of means.

Unfortunately for him, bis real wife had not been content to allow matters to remain in abeyance; and, having heard that Groonette had come to New Zealand, she put herself in communication with the Police Department, with the result that when the detectives were advised of the details of the case they soon traced the man, and arrested him as stated above.

It is said that a letter from his first wife, which bad been forwarded to tho Commissioner of Police in Now Zealand, was shown to Groonette, who admitted that it was in her writing. At the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday tho accused, who was described by Sub-inspector Kemp as a “ much-married man,” was charged with having made a false statement in connection with his going through tho marriage ceremony with a young Wellington woman, and was remanded until, tho 10th inst. Bail was fixed at £2OO in the prisoner’s own recognisances, ami two sureties of £IOO each. it is stated that divorce proceedings are on the tapis. These have been instituted by his wife in South Africa, and will bo proceeded with as soon as possible.

It is also understood that bigamy proceedings have been instituted against the accused by tho local police.