CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 13

CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

" DISTINCTLY BAD CASE." SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT. "Bigamy is an offence which may be comparatively venial but this is a distinctly bad case of bigamy," said Mr. Justice Heed, in passing sentence of 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour on Kevan Francis Burns, in the Supreme Court yesterday. Sir. Hall Skelton. for prisoner, said Burns was just 24, anu had never been in any trouble before. Ho married a young woman who left him shortly afteiwards. He started proceedings for restitution, but had not the money to go on. He went to work in the country and an excellent report of his industry was given by his employer. He became acquainted with a girl, and was induced by her parents to marry her. They were getting on very happily and seemed to bo particu larly well suited to each other. This was more an offence against ecclesiastical law The Judge said the wrong was not so much to the first woman he married as to the second woman. His information was that prisoner a few months after he left, his first wife, became engaged to the second woman under pretence that he was single. This was a case that must be marked by severe punishment. Prisoner would be sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 18 months.