UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 28 September 1927, Page 9

UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES

HOPE MAINTENANCE CASE.

Auckland, Sept. 1. The John Wijliam Hope maintenance case was re-opened in the Police Court. He was charged with being £l6O in arrears under the maintenance order made in favour of Annie Hope, of Sheffield, England. The accused, in evidence, denied that he had ever boon in Sheffield in his life and he had never married any other woman but his present wife, whose maiden name was Edith Alice Barnes, and whom he married in England in July, 1923, coming out to New Zealand with her the following month.

After his release from prison he and his wife intended going back to England to straighten out the trouble. When working at the Manchester dry docks he met a man whose name was also John William Hope and who resembled him in appearance. In 1916, when he was supposed to be at Shefheld he was at sea.

Depositions made by Annie Hope of Sheffield, stated that she married' John William Hope in August, 1916. In July, 1921, she obtained a maintenance order against her husband. In June, 1922, he obtained a variation of the order from 30s to 25s a week. Payments ceased in August 1923. Subsequently she received a letter from Annie Barnes, of Farnwarth, Lancashire, a sister of Edith Alice Barnes, stating that Hope married her sister at Bolton in July, 1923, and they had gone out to New Zealand. Evidence was given by expert photographers concerning photographs of the husband of Annie Hope and those of the accused. Three witnesses were not prepared to swear the accused was the man photographed at the side of Annie Hope, and one said the accused was not the man.

Mr Sullivan, for the accused said his client realised that if his 'story were false he would be liable to arrest on perjury and bigmay charges. The case was adjourned until tomorrow.