NO WEDDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23139, 10 September 1938, Page 19

NO WEDDING

STRANGE COURT STORY FORMALITIES NOT ARRANGED MAN SENTENCED FOR .FRAUD TWO MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT What; counsel described as an extraordinary case of a bridegroom who was unaware of the church and law iormalit it's regarding marriage was that ol Norman Case Avison, hotel porter, aged ;j;i (.Air. Noble), "ho appeared in the Police Court yesterday. He denied charges ol being idle and disorderly and obtaining credit by fraud for I'.'} Os Gd from taxi-drivers, who were allegedly engaged to drive accused and the bride to (lie church.

Sub-lnspeetor Fox said accused came to Auckland from Hastings some weeks ago and obtained work as a gardener at a suburban rest home. He fell in love with a pantrymaid, and they decided to marry on September 1. Two days before the proposed wedding ho left his work, received his wages and went to stay at a city hotel. Licence and Minister Overlooked

While allegedly making preparations for his marriage, accused incurred debts with taxi-drivers, continued Mr. Fox. In each case lie paid the first fare and obtained later rides on credit. For the wedding day lie engaged three taxis. One took the bride from her home and another took accused and the best man. A third was kept waiting outside accused's hotel. "My some oversight accused made no arrangements for the wedding, having obtained no licence or engaged a minister," said Mr. Fox. describing how aceused and the bride, in separate cars, drove to various churches before finding one another outside a church in Remtiera. After a consultation they drove back to the hotel and the bride became disgusted and went home. Accused tried to obtain money to pay the taxis from the hotel proprietor, who recommended his getting money from the taxi-drivers to pay for his board. Taxi-Drivers' Evidence

Sergeant, McGettigan produced a statement made by accused after being taken to the police station by one of the taxi-drivers. He then had 5d in his possession, and admitted having no other money or property, but said he might be aWe to borrow money to pay his debts. When he arrived at the hotel be had C 7 10s. He paid £1 for his room and later began drinking heavily, leaving himself without enough money to procure a marriage licence.

The three taxi-drivers described trips made for accused on days preceding the wedding day, and their arrangements for driving the parties to the church. Alfred Franklin Smith, who took the bride, said they visited four churches, and at .the last one, at Keinuera. the minister said he knew of no wedding having been fixed, and asked if he could he of any assistance.

Spencer ('hind Brown said lie drove accused to a church in Synionds Street and then to Remucra. where they found the bride. Apparently neither knew which church they were supposed to go to. Warwick Francis Vivian Harvey said he waited outside accused's hotel until he knew he was too late to take anyone to the wedding.. "Fraud Quite Obvious"

Mr. Noble submitted that the drivers were using criminal proceedings to collect a civil debt. There was no intention to defraud the men of their money even if payment were delayed. The magistrate, .Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, said he had 110 hesitation in saying that fraud was quite obvious in each case.

Mr. Fox said accused had been previously convicted of fraud and theft at Hastings and had been imprisoned.

Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment on each of two charges, the sentences to he cumulative. On the third charge he was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, to come up for sentence if called upon within a year, and to refrain from taking liquor. The charge of being idle and disorderlv was withdrawn.