CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16270, 1 July 1916, Page 9

CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

YOUNG WOMAN VICTIMISED.

MAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

The evidence in a case in which a man | named Alfred Clarence Mitchell was j charged with bigamy was taken in the : Police Court yesterday before Mr. E. C. j Cutten, S.M. The specific charge against j the accused was "that on May 4, at , Auckland, being already a married man, I he went through a form of marriage with ' one Grace Gertrude Rosette Appleby." j A further charge was that the accused | made a false declaration to the registrar ; of marriages for the purpose of obtaining a marriage certificate. The accused was represented by Mr. H- H. Ostler. Ivy Clara Mitchell, aged 20, daughter of accused, said she had lived with her parents all her lifetime with the exception of nine months. Mrs. Clara ' Mitchell was her mother, and to her I knowledge the parties had lived together ! during the whole of her life as man and wife. i

1 To Mr. Ostler : Her father came back Jto the house after being granted bail on 1 | his arrest. Her mother told her of her father's alleged offence. He stayed at the house about a week, but did not agree ' I with her mother, and they did not live | together as man and wife. She heard i enough from their conversation to know that. Statement of Accused. Detective R. Cullen said that on May 9 last-he had a conversation at the police station with the accused, who ad-i mitted having committed bigamy and having made a false declaration. He spoie to the accused again on June 24, when the latter said he intended to plead guilty to the two charges. Witness showed him a copy of a register of marriage, and he admitted that that -was a true copy of the registration of his marriage in 1895 with Clara Lee. He had hidden, nothing and had given witness every assistance. In making his admission, accused said that though he was not generally a drinking man he was at the time of his bigamous marriage suffering from the effects of drink, and did not fully realise what he was doing. j Grace Gertrude Rosette Appleby, a young woman, 18 years of age, residing at Northcote, said about the beginning of April in the present year she and her mother were introduced, by arrangement, to accused at a matrimonial" registry under a name which he subsequently said was wrong, giving as his real name Harry Ernest McDonald. He gave as his reason for giving the first name that he did not want anybody to know he had met her at a matrimonial agency He said he was very well off and had been a doctor She became engaged to him and on May 4, at the registrar's office in Auckland, she went through the form of marriage with him. He gave her a ring (produced). Her mother was one of the witnesses. Accused signed the register as Harry Ernest McDonald. Accused was arrested at Morrinsville

Six Weeks' Engagement. Mr. Ostler: You say you are only 18 years of age?— How do you know that?—l have been told that by my mother. You look older than that to me. Did you ever doubt your age? No. You have a sister'— have two. What are their ages?— is 21 and one 16. Your sister who is 21 had her name entered at the matrimonial agency as well as you?— Yes. How long after he met von were von married—As near as I can remember it was about six weeks. Did your people make anv inquiries about him'—No, we trusted him. Your mother was a consenting party? Yes. In reply to the chief detective, she stated that she looked upon a. doctor and a wealthy man as being truthful. Rosetta Appleby, the mother of the last witness, stated that on she and her daughter being introduced \a the accused he said he had a station in Nelson and a farm elsewhere. Ernest Livermore. deputy registrar of marriages, said on May 4 accused called at his office ami made application for a marriage license, giving his name as Harry Ernest McDonald, and stating that ho was a. bachelor o-f six months'" residence in Auckland. He declared that the particulars he gave were correct, and on the same date went through the form of marriage with Miss Appleby. Accused pleaded guilty to e.ich charge, and was committed to the. Supreme Court for sentence.