A YOUTHFUL BIGAMIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18317, 6 February 1923, Page 9

A YOUTHFUL BIGAMIST.

SAD STORY OF GIRL'S LIFE.

PERSUADED INTO MARRIAGE

The incidents in the life of a youthful bigamist- who had entered, upon a second marriage ; without going ; through . the formalities necessary to annul the first were recited ai 'the Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Stringer, yesterday. The girl; was.only. 20 years of age, and when her counsel, ' Mr. Matthews sug ; gested that publication of her name should be . prohibited, HSs Honor readily agreed. The girl, who was well dressed and demure in her manner, pleaded guilty to having committed bigamy and having made a false declaration. \ ' :*

-Counsel > explained that when the girl was only- 15 her father divorced the mother, who was addicted to drink. .At the age of 16 the girl came to Auckland, and berjg alone in the city got into trouble with a young man. She obtained an affiliation order, but was unable to get any money from the man, and '.worked to support herself and child. • There could be no suggestion, said counsel, that the girl had been of loose habits. After some time she came to know a man, who took a great . interest in her child, and she . was finally persuaded by her foolish mother to marry ( him. The marriage was never consummated, as the man who became her ' husband in law was repulsive to her. She.next met the. man. with whom she went through a form of marriage. an. honest seafaring man. She, however, shrank from revealing the secret of her marriage, .and it was not until they had gone through - the form of: marriage that she told him all i the facts of her life. The 'sailor husband was standing by his wife, said Mr. Matthews, and would go through the % marriage .ceremony 'again when she was in a position to do 50.:.;..; ■ The case was adjourned for a week to enable further inquiries to be made.