MARRIED A CRIMINAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 5 August 1925, Page 7

MARRIED A CRIMINAL.

•REMARKABLE STORY IN HOUSE. A remarkable story of duping a young girl into marriage by an liabitusl criminal was unfolded in the petition of Alildred Elaine Smyth, of Manurewa, praying Parliament to pass a Bill to dissolve her marriage with Maurice James Walkington Smyth. A Bill lias been drafted and taken charge of by the Hon. J. P. Campbell, entitled “The Alildred Elaine Smyth Divorce Bill, an Act to dissolve the imjrriagte of Mjildred (Blaine JfcJmytli with Alaurice James Walkington Smyth, an habitual criminal.” It sets forth that Mildred, at the age of eighteen, married Smyth, described its a company promoter, at her fathers house at Manurewa, she believing him to be a respectable law-abiding citizen. In August, 1922, Smyth was convicted, at Christchurch, of arson, and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. and declared an habitual criminal. Whereas Smyth at various times between 1911 and 1922 was convicted oil fourteen separate charges of false pretences, also was convicted of other crimes committed in New Zealand and sentenced to lengthy terms, and was convicted of arson within one month of liis marriage, and whereas Alildred married Smyth in good faith, relying on his representations, not knowing his criminal record, etc., the marriage shall be and the same is hereby dissolved.

In her petition Alildred declares that she first met Smyth at Rotokuhu near Reefton. They became engaged thereafter, marrying at Afanurewa as stated. Smyth was arrested and convicted of arson at Kaikoura one month later. She since had discovered that Smyth was a criminal, well known to the po'ke as James Walkington Smyth, alias Samuel Vane, alias Tom Barr, alias Al. Preston, alias Houghton, alias Jones, alias Gibbs, alias Kane, alias Farquhar, alias James. AYhen she married him she was quite unaware that lie ever had committed a crime. He was, a man of very good appearance. Petitioner had visited him in gaol ’ some considerable time after his conviction, being e ven then unaware of liis past, record, hut was constrained to discontinue tier visits owing to liis con, duet.