BIGAMOUS MARRIAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

BIGAMOUS MARRIAGE.

TWO "WIVES' BECOME FRIENDS.

UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY.

Two women living at Richmond became very friendly, arid as one bought toys for the other's children neither dreamed that both regarded the same man as husband, or that he was the father of both their families. At last, however, there came a dramatic revelation c' Hie truth, and in the end the man. Thos. Cummings, described as a taxi-driver, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to unlawfully marrying Alice Mary Florence Piper during the lifetime of his wife.

Mr. Beaufoy Moore (prosecuting) said defendant was married to Cecile Weston, at Louth, Lincoln, on December 15, 1889. The bigamous marriage took place at Richmond Registry Office, on December 17, 1904, defendant, who described himself as a bachelor, being " married " in the name of Alexander. It was further stated that while living at Richmond Mrs. Alexander" became acquainted with a Mrs. Cummings, Mho often bought toys for the former's three children. The two women were very friendly, but it was not until last Christmas that Miss Piper became aware of the fact that the Mrs. Cummings in question was actually prisoner's wife. When arrested prisoner said : " Yes, that is true, but Miss Piper id sick, and we have three children, and I must provide for them. I cannot leave them to the mercy of the world."

Detective-Sergeant Beard said inquiries showed that whilst living with the second " wife" defendant was in the habit of going back to his lawful wife from time to time. He left the first wife with a family of five, and remained away some year.s before he returned. The son wa6 now in the army. *

The Recorder (Sir Forrest Fulton): At the time -of the first marriage defendant was a private in the 10th Regiment?— Witness : Yes, my lord. According to the certificates of the second marriage defendant described himself as a bachelor of independent means !—•' Yes, my lord.

Lance-corporal John Cummings. of the Staffordshire Regiment, stated that as long ago as 1911 the family had a suspicion that prisoner (his father) had married again. About that time witness asked his father if it was true, and he replied that it was, and that he had had three children by the second "wife." In 1904 witness informed Major Piper, Miss Piper's father, that his father was married, and he understood that his mother made a similiar communication. " Did you inform Major Piper that your father was married, and that he ought not to be allowed to keep company with his daughter before the bigamous marriage I" the Recorder asked; " Yes," witness replied.

Recorder : Did you tell the girl Piper that your father was married!l never saw her.

Alice. Piper, the second "wife," a stylishly-dressed young woman, said she first met defendant at Folkestone, where she was living with her father, two years before she went through the ceremony of marriage.

Recorder: Did you know at that time he had a wife and a grown-up family?— No.

And that he was in the habit of visiting his: real wife?— No.

Miss Piper said her father was a retired army major. Recorder: In what position was defendant—he describes himself as of independent means?—l do not know what were his means.

How did you live?—He lived on my money. I had a legacy. Recorder: And I suppose the whole of the money has now disappeared Yea. Witness added that her father knew nothing about the bigamous marriage she was not living at home at the time. Recorder (to defendant) : This does not seem to roe to be a very satisfactory case, for your son appears to have called upon the father of your second "wife" and told him that you were married. However, you have hroken the law, and must be imprisoned and kept at hard labour for three'months.