One Hour for Bigamy
SHORTEST SENTENCE EVER IMPOSED Por Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 24. Probably the shortest sentence ever imposed on a man for bigamy was that "served” by James Robert Saunders, a seaman on H.M.S. Leith, who appeared for senteuco before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supremo Court this morning, and was detained until the rising of the court. An hour later he was free. The evidence in tho lower court showed that Saunders, who was aged 25, was married in a London registry office in May, 1933, to Joan Davies, and went through a form of marriage in Auckland in April, 1935, with Lorraine Yvonne Archer.
Mr. Noble said the prisoner was inveigled into marriage in England by a certain statement by his wife, and immediately agreed to separate. His wife went her way and he went his. Apparently he thought he was justified in marrying again. Prisoner was a respectable young man with a good record in tho Navy. His Honour pointed out that a bigamous marriage always did injury to the second woman concerned. Bigamy was always a serious crime. However, each case must always be dealt with according to circumstances. It appeared that the woman whom prisoner married in Auckland did not want him punished, and his Honour thought he was justified in treating the case as an exceptional one.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 5
Word Count
225One Hour for Bigamy Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 5
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