MARRYING A NIECE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

MARRYING A NIECE.

UNIQUE PROSECUTION AT YORKSHIRE ASSIZES. At Yorkshire Assizes, a few days ago, William Short. 50, a local preacher, a member the /full Hoard of Guardians, and carrying ©«: business as a provision merchant in that city. was indicted for wilfully making and s.lgiii!ig> false declaration at Hull for the purpose" of procuring his marriage \rith " .E'iou o«jfuitr, his niece. ' On rIVr Ist of March last defendant, counsel i- ii, applied to the district registrar of ma triads at Hull to be married by special licence with Edna Donner, and the form of marriage was gone through at the Hessle - Road Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hull, a week afterwards. On making the applicalion defendant declared that he knew no impediment to the marriage, and, in accordance with the provisions of the law, this declaration was solemnly repeated during the religious ceremony. As a fact, Edna Donner was prisoner's niece, and, as is well known from the Prayer Book, could not marry so near a relative. The Rev. John Forster, minister of the Hessle Road Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hull, spoke to the form of marriage being gone through at that place. Witness was not aware of the relationship between the two parties. He had known defendant for four years. " About three years ago," said witness, "I had preached a sermon wo'nh dealt with the unique character of Abraham bhortly afterwards Mr. Short said to me, 1 1 do not think that. Abraham was the noble specimen of humanity that you made him out to.be on account of his marriage.' " ■ The Judge: He thought you had painted Abraham in too bright colours. (Laughter.) Mr. Forster added: Some five months before the form of marriage was gone through I remember Mr. Short saying something to : me about the marriage of cousins. I replied •'. ' that some people like Royalties did so, but that I would not like to marry my cousin. Defendant gave evidence. While he knew that Miss Donner was his niece he was toc tally , ignorant of the fact that he could not marry her. Miss Donner had attended the Church of England, and he believed that a clergyman had . spoken to her on the subject. ' He was not aware of this until a fortnight after the form of marriage had teen gone through. v Counsel contended that the defendant, who was a man greatly respected in Hull, as shown by his position, had no idea he was doing wrong. He had lost his wife over two years ago, and Miss Donner was a woman nearly 40 years of age. The parties were ' .perfectly happy, and it would be really ins? teresting to know who the busybody was who Slgl'ii'ad set the law in motion. 1 , - 'The ury returned a verdict of "Not feuilty,. .' ana defendant was discharged.,