A BOGUS MARRIAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13097, 9 February 1906, Page 5

A BOGUS MARRIAGE.

REMARKABLE CASE AT

WELLINGTON.

THE BRIDE SEEKING DAMAGES.

[BY TKI.EOKAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Thursday. An alleged bogus marriage was a factor in a civil action, heard at the Magistrate's Court, before Dr. A. McArthur, S.M., today. Thy plaintiff in the action was Annie O'Brien, domestic servant, and the defendant was John Cosher, fireman on s.s. Araluira. The statement of claim alleges that " (1) the defendant induced plaintiff to go through a, form of bogus marriage with him, on the representations of defendant that all necessary and legal act", notices, deeds, and things had been done by him. and others, to make such marriage legally binding on plaintiff and defendant. (2) After such marriage ceremony, defendant boat"- and assaulted plaintiff, wherefore plaintiff claims £20, under the first cause of action, or in the alternative, £20 on the second cause of action."

Mr. Hindmarsh, in opening the case for the plaintiff, explained that his client might be called simple. She could not tell the time, and she did not know the months of the year. He enlarged on the particulars mentioned in the claim, and stated that if human weakness was a subject of laughter, then, of course, this case would be a subject for laughter. He alleged that about 20 people got this unfortunate woman to go through a bogus marriage with the defendant, in a private house. Plaintiff believed site was married and alter the ceremony these people got some money from her to go and buy beer. After the beer had been consumed, she left the premises with the defendant, who subsequently knocked her down and seriously injured her kg. Plaintiff was a respectable woman, and worked for respectable people in the city.

Counsel put plaintiff into, the witnessbox, and in the course of a rambling state"ment, she deposed that the defendant asked her to marry him, and stated Unit ho had £15. He wanted her to go to a Catholic Church, but witness told him (hat she was not going to be " humbugged with him.'' He then stated that lie would go and bring a minister to the house.

His Worship: Is this a rehearsal of '"The Earl and. the Girl?" (Laughter.) Mr. Wilford : No, it is John F. Sheridan's ." Widow O'Brien.' (Renewed laughter.)

Witness, continuing, stated that to the house in question they brought a. man,. who looked respectable. He was dressed in a brown hat and a. brown coat, and carried an umbrella and Bible in his hand. Witness and defendant were married in the kitchen and signed their names as witnesses.

Mr. Hindniarsli: Cm you read or write? -No.

Continuing, witness said she asked the man in the brown coat it' he had married people before, and he said "Yes." The party asked them to give them half-a-crown, and witness did so. They got beer with it. After the ceremony was over one man advised witness to go to her home. She took his advice and left the house. Defendant followed and knocked her down and injured her leg - .

What did the parson say''—He asked me what my name- was. and if I was single. I said, " I am Annie O'Brien, and I was single." He asked him (the defendant) who he was, and he said " John Gosher." He read the ceremony, and I cannot tell you two words of it. Did you say " I will?"— do not know what I said. Didn't he say: "Will you have this man to be your wedded liu.vband?"—Oh, yes, and 1 said, " I will." You have been through a wedding ceremony before?— Yes, I was married when I was 17. The next witness was the defendant, who stated that his name was John Davis. About 15 to 20 people were in the house at the time. It was after eight o'clock on a Saturday evening. Plaintiff had been pestering witness, and they decided to have a wedding to pacify her. Every one in the house was having a bit of jollification. They could not get any one in the house to act as minister, and they went to a hotel near by and found an eld party there, They had to carry him from the hotel to act as parson, and had to pub a towel across his arm just to make him " Look like something." All the old man said, was. "Will you take this man to be your lawful husband?" and the plaintiff said "Yes."

His Worship gave judgment for defendant. Counsel for plaintiff gave notice tf appeal.