MAN ADMITS BIGAMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18761, 15 July 1924, Page 9

MAN ADMITS BIGAMY.

COMMITTAL FOR SENTENCE.

QUESTION OF HIS NAME.

DOUBTED MARRIAGE LEGALITY.

A charge of bigamy, in that on March 23, 1921, at Auckland, he -went through a form of marriage with Ethel May Shuell, his wife being still alive, was preferred against Frederick Clarence lieslie Playie, also known as Sidney Gorman (Mr. Beckerleg), a.ged 36, at the Police Court, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., yesterday.

An order for the maintenance of his; lawful wife was sought from accused also, but on the application of Mr. Singer, who repiresented Mrs. Gorman, an adjournment until July 28 was granted.

Constable McDonald stated that he arrested accused on July 5 on a charge of having deserted bis wife, Annie Evelyn Maud Gorman. Witness produced a certified copy of a marriage certificate showing that on May 26, 1906, at Wellington, a marriage was solemnised between Sidney • Gorman and Annie Evelyn Maud Luxton.

In a voluntary statement made to witness accused stated that he was the son of a woman named Playie, bnt at the age of five and* a-half years he was adopted by a Mrs. Gorman, of Wellington. He separated from bis wife in 1918, and had not seen her since. He sent her money»on several occasioas, but received no reply or acknowledgement. On March 23, 1921, accused went through a - form of marriage with Ethel May Shuell, at the Eongsland Methodist Churchj Auckland. He was under the impression that his first marriage was not legal owing to the fact that he went under the name of Gorman, and this was not his lawful name. He thought the second marriage was legal, but did not explain to the registrar, when obtaining the second certificate, that he had been married previously, saying that he was a bachelor. It was onfy daring the last 12 months, through reading of bigamy cases in the newspapers, that he had any knowledge that his second marriage was unlawful. Ethel May Playie (nee Shuell), said she knew that he had been previously married, but he told her he wished to be married rn the name under which he was christened. Witness tmderstood, from what ho told her, that his first wife was dead.

Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail at £100 being allowed.