BIGAMOUS MARRIAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 9 October 1942, Page 6

BIGAMOUS MARRIAGE

MAN SENT TO PRISON •WIFE” ADMITTED TO PROBATION Auckland, This Day. “ I draw the inference from the report that they went through a form of marriage to enable her to obtain a wife's allowance from the Navy, and that he also allowed her to draw her husband s Army allotment,” said Mr Justice Fair, when Donald Edgar Alexander Fraser, naval ship’s steward, 24, and Mrs Lesley Joyce Mitchell. 18. came up for sentence as parties to a bigamous marriage. His Honour said they met on a train, when Mrs Mitchell, who had been married a month or two previously, was travelling to join her husband in a camp near Wellington. Fraser knew this and persuaded her, and no doubt she was not unwilling, to go to Auckland instead, where they lived as man and wife. He went through a form of marriage with her in April last. The least sentence the Court could impose on Fraser was 12 months’ imprisonMrs Mitchell’s conduct reflected no credit on her judgment or character, but in view of her youth, as well as her condition, she would be admitted to probation for three years, on the condition that her place of residence be under supervision. She might live with her parents, or Fraser’s parents provided her conduct was satisfactory, and there xvould be no objection by the Court to her marriage and living with Fraser in due course. —P.A.