FALSE DECLARATION.

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1919, Page 4

FALSE DECLARATION.

KAIWAKA STOREKEEPER CHARGED.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

AUCKLAND, Dee. 19

The wilful making of a false declaration for the marriage register was alleged against William Thomas Bandle, aged 71, before Mr J. E. Wilson, S.M. The police alleged that Bandle declared that he Avas G9 years pf age, and a widower, and that his former wife died in February, 1901.

Detective Sweeney said that in July last he saw the accused at Kaiwaka, and told him there had been a complaint that he had committed bigamy. In a statement the accused said he was a storekeeper at Kaiwaka. He first married at Adelaide in May, 1887, when he was 40 years of age. After some disagreements he deserted his wife in 1905, and came to New Zealand. Prior to the first marriage his prospective wife told him that she had married another man, but had not seen him for seven years. In January, 1918, accused married an Auckland woman. He described himself in the register as a widower because he considered his first marriage invalid, as he had no evidence that his first wife's first husband was not living. The false statement in regard to his age was made in error. His real age at the second marriage was 71. He admitted that, though he had not heard from his first wife, he had every reason to believe she was alive. He did not remember having stated to the registrar that she was dead, but he was not prepared to dispute that he had done so. After formal evidence had been given by the registrar of marriages, the accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. —Press Assn.