MAN MARRIED TWICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19490, 20 November 1926, Page 15

MAN MARRIED TWICE.

DESERTED WIFE IN ENGLAND. TWELVE MONTHS IN PRISON. ' [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. A sentence of 12 months' imprisonment was inflicted on Joseph William Henry Darke in the Supreme Court to-day for bigamy. Darke was married in England. He -went to sea, deserting his wife and children, and came to New Zealand, where he went through the marriage form with a woman in Christchurch. Counsel for prisoner said Darke was 32 years of age and had been in New Zealand for six years. He heard a rumour that his wife in England was dead. Mr. Justice Stringer: He only says he heard a rumour. I don't believe it. He simply deserted her and picked up with another woman. He seems to have deserted his second wife also. Counsel: He says he went, to look for work and that when he returned she had gone and had left instructions that he was not to be told her whereabouts. His Honor: He made no provision for his children in England. The Government officers there had to enforce the law against him. He does not seem to have behaved very well. The report to me is that he left his second wife and has been living with another married woman. The Crown Prosecutor said that information supplied to him showed that Darke had been living with his second wife. His crime came to light when she took proceedings against him. His Honor said Darke was in relationship with three women and he deserved an exemplary sentence.