BIGAMY CHARGE LAID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20407, 8 November 1929, Page 17

BIGAMY CHARGE LAID.

EVIDENCE FROM ENGLAND. AGENT SENT FOR TRIAL. I* by telegraph.—own con respondent.] CHRISTCHURCII, Thursday. A charge of bigamy was preferred against Maurice William Baker, aged 32 years, an advertising agent, who appeared on remand in the Magistrate s C ourt today. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The charge was that on January 8, 1927, at Wellington, being married, he went through a form of marriage with Nancy Patricia Holmes, thereby committing bigamy. Detective-Sergeant Young said that in a statement accused said he had married Letty Gwendoline McWilliams in England on August 19, 1924. He and his wife had stayed at an hotel for a week when, as the result of something he had heard concerning his wife, he had left her. He had never heard from her since a fortnight after the marriage. Witness also produced a. statement made by Letty Gwendoline Baker to the Surrey police. She said that her husband had left her shortly after the marriage nnd was subsequently co-respondent in a divorce action. 11l 1927 she had gone to India to work. When she returned to England, in 1929, she went to sec accused s mother and found out his address. She had then written to the police in Christchurcb. Nancy Patricia. Baker said that in January, 1927, at the Registrar's office, Wellington, she went through a form of marriage with accused. She had not known that he was previously married until after he was arrested. There were two children. When accused was committed for trial his counsel asked for bail. " Mv objection still holds good," said the chief detective. "In fairness to the accused I cannot say any more. He has not been tried yet. Hut I consider it a case where bail should not bo allowed."

The Magistrate: What was the amount of the bail before? Counsel: It was fixed at £SOO. The Magistrate: I will reduce it to £3OO.