BIGAMY ADMITTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17032, 13 December 1918, Page 9

BIGAMY ADMITTED.

YOUNG WOMAN'S OFFENCE.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

Bigamy by going through the form of marriage at Auckland on January 16, 1917, with Francis H. Herring, was admitted by a young woman, Florence F. A. Hull (Mr. Matthews), at the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. E- Wilson, S.M. The accused appeared in Court with her fourteen-months infant in her arms. Violet Wolfe said she first knew accused about two years ago as Mrs. Hull, but some months later the latter engaged from witness rooms for* herself and her " husband," who sho said was a Mr. Herring. She produced a marriage certificate in support of her statement. Subsequently accused told witness that she had committed bigamy by going through the form of marriage with Herring. Reginald Beresford, a miner, of Bealoy Flat, deposed that he had known accused nnd'hor husband, William Henry Hull, for about Boven years. He was a witness at their marriage, the signature on tho certificate produced being his. Francis H. Herring said lie had known tho accused for about five years as Frances Hayes, a single woman. He went through the form of marriage with her at St. Matthew's Church on January 16, 1917. About a year .ago, in consequence of something tola him by William Hull, a steward employed oil the Manaia, he asked accused if she were married to Hull, and received a reply in the affirmative. Tho Rev. Jasper Calder gave evidence as to officiating at the ceremony on Jannary 16, 1917, and Detective Mason, of WellinirtoA, produced a written statement, signed by the accused, in which she admitted tho offence, and that she also know Hull to be alive at tho time. Witness had reason to believe that accused was living with Hull at.the time she made the confession. , Accused pleaded guilty and was com- ' mitted to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr. Matthews, who stated that she had appeared on summons from Wellington, asked that accused he released in the meantime, on condition tWit her husband would undertake that she would appear for sentence. This was granted.