WOMAN'S BIGAMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22240, 15 October 1935, Page 11

WOMAN'S BIGAMY

INFORMED THE POLICE HUSBAND GIVES EVIDENCE ACCUSED FOR SENTENCE Having called at the Auckland detective office on October 4 and confessed that she had committed bigamy on September 28, a young woman, Malche (Marjorie) Amelia Ruby Williams, admitted the offence in the Police Court before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday. A young butcher, Robert Henry Williams, stated that he was married to accused on June 17, 19(33, at Auckland. There was one child of the marriage. As a result of domestic troubles his wife and he decided last April to separate and a legal separation was accordingly obtained, the woman returning to her parents. He had seen accused frequently since then and had paid maintenance for her and the child. Witness said he last saw his wife at her parents' home on September 28, when thoy wore thinking of returning to each other. An able seaman, whoso name was ordered to be suppressed, said ho met accused in November last year. He knew her first as Miss Htibrich, but she later told him that she was Mrs. Williams, and that she was a divorced woman, her husband living in Auckland.

"I kept company with her from that date and on September 28 I went through a form of marriage with Iter, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. 11. Ferguson I ish," added witness. "We lived together after the marriage, but three days later she told mo she was already married and that her husband was still alive." Detective Wilson stated that on October 4 accused called at the detective office and told him that she had committed bigamy. She was 19J years of age when she was married to Williams, and she lived with him for 14 months. Sho had been keeping company with the other man for 12 months before she went through a form of marriage with him. She was under the impression that a legal separation permitted her to remarry; sho did not know a divorce was necessary. "In bigamy cases we generally suppress the name of the 'wronged woman,' so we should also do it in the case of a man," said Mr. Hunt, in granting a request for the suppression of the name of the second principal witness. Accused, who appeared on summons, was represented by Mr. Townsend. She was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail of £IOO being allowed.