HUSBAND AND WIFE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1927, Page 2

HUSBAND AND WIFE

EACH THOUGHT TO BE DEAD

A case in which a husband and wife believed each other to be dead, Slid consequently went through the form of second marriage, was investigated recently in a Sydney Court before Judge Curlewis. James Francis Clark, aged 35, salesman, was charged with having married Dorothy Irene Ellis, his first wife, Elsie Annie Clark (nee Doorey), to whom he was married at Cairns. Queensland, in 1910, being still alive. The Crown Prosecutor said that both of the couples were happy in their present married state, and had been agreeable to let bygone be bygones. Someone, however, had laid information, and the authorities had taken action.

Elsie Annie Evans, the first wife of accused, stated that she and her husband lived three months together. He went to Tasmania, and not having heard of him, and believing him dead, she went through the\ form of marriage with James Evans. She said that she and Clark did not “get oh” well together. Accused said that he could not get employment in Queensland, and eventually went to Tasmania. His wife was living with her people, and he sent her money. He went back in 1914 and saw her for- a short while, but they found that their temperaments were not compatible, and they parted. In 1923 he saw a solicitor regarding his wife, and acting on advice he went to Queensland for the purpose of ascertaining her whereabouts if possible. From reports which he had perused he concluded that she was dead. The police tried to locate her, but without success. In 1926 he went through the form of marriage with Dorothy Irene Ellis. He had told his second wife that he had been married before.

The jury stated that the did not wish to hear any further evidence, and acquitted accused, who was discharged. The Judge said that when Clark’s second wife married him she committed no offence, and when she continued to live with him she commmitted no offence. When she chose to go on living with him afterwards it was her business, and the business of nobody else.