A MODERN ROMANCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 13

A MODERN ROMANCE.

THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF STEPHEN BOSHER. The charge of having contracted a bigamous marriage, which has been banging over the man Stephen Bosher for some time, was dealt with, in so far as preliminaries are concerned, at the Stipendiary Magistrate’s Gourt on Saturday morning, before Mr Greenfield. The accused, who appears to have got into _ trouble all round, is already in gaol awaiting trial iu connection with various monetary transactions, So far as the alleged bigamy. is concerned, the case presents some peculiar features, the strange adventures of Bosher during the last IS years, between the time of his first marriage and his appearance in the dock on Saturday, forming a romantic chapter in his life’s history. In the seventies, Bosher lived at A karoa, and, when working for a man named Le Beau, married the latter’s daughter, Josephine Le Beau, going up to Lyttelton apparently for that purpose. The couple settled down in Akaroa, but a couple of years afterwards Bosher had to go home to France, on what business lias apparently never been stated, lie was arrested after arrival for not having served his country in a military capacity. His imprisonment, soldiering, and subsequent travelling experiences, extending over a good many years, and his subsequent arrival in London, and then again in New Zealand, are detailed in a letter which is appended below, written from Wellington Gaol to his second wife, who is now living at Petoue.

The later developments appear to have been that Bosher had telegraphed to his first wife, who had been living in Akaroa over since his departure from the Colony, asking if he should come home. She had changed her name to Sergison in the interim, and wired back the simple word “ No.” This wire was produced in Court on Saturday. Bosher afterwards married Mary Ann Reece, daughter of a Wellington resident, some four years ago, and they had been living together until he got into his present trouble. The accused wore a worried look when brought into Court, but be was neatly dressed; a white shirt shone behind a buttoned-up coat, and a bow was suspended from a turn-down collar. He watched the proceedings with interest, and only vouchsafed a side glanco at lii3 fust wife as she passed the dock to take a seat on the form near the tvitness-box. She sat with her back to accused, and neither saw each other’s face during the whole proceedings. Mrs Bosher was not called to give testimony, being apparently present for the purpose of being identified by a witness to their marriage. The later wife of prisoner was not put in the box either, witnesses to the second ceremony being deemed sufficient. On being charged, the prisoner said he wanted a remand in order to procure the attendance of two witnesses. One was in Foxton, the other in Wellington. He had only had notice of the case the previous day at 3 o’clock, and could do nothing, being in gaol. The Stipendiary Magistrate said he could have his witnesses ready by the time the case came before the Supreme Court.

Accused did not know that his Foxton witness would come down in time. lie was a farmer in that district.

Inspector Pender said the police would arrange for any witnesses to bo in attendance. Posher was told some time ago that the charge would' be preferred against him.

It was eventually decided to go on with the case, accused’s witnesses to be summoned to attend at the higher Court. In the present proceedings ho was unrepresented by counsel. Inspector Pender conducted the charge for the police. Antonio Rodorigues, hotelkeeper, was the first to tender testimony. He to Akaroa, and had lived there 40 years. Was acquainted with accused there, both when ho (accused) was single and after he got married, lie aiso knew a woman, named Josephine He Pcau. She had lived with her lather, a brick maker, in the township. 110 did nut. remember seeing Posher and Miss Le Pcau on January Ist, 1878, at Akaroa. Remembered the time they were married, however. Ho was a witness to the ceremony, which took place at Lyttelton in the Catholic Church. Father Donough ofliciated ; there was no one else present. [Certificate of marriage here put in. J Witness could not swear to tho date, but knew that accused had a daughter aged Hi or 17. Posher and his wife lived at Akaroa for some time subsequent!}'. The issue of the marriage was two girls. Mrs Posher was still alive, and catne up in the steamer with witness from the (South on Friday last. Father Donough was now dead. Accused had no questions to ask. Emanuel Reece, carpenter, deposed that he lived in Elizabeth street, Wellington, lie was married, and his wife was living. They had a daughter named Mary Ann Reece. Knew the accused. First met him five years ago last August. Accused paid attentions to his daughter, and they were married. Witness was present at the marriage, which took place in his own house in Taranaki street four years ago, the ceremony being performed by the Rev C. Dallaston, Baptist minister. His other daughter, Eliza Reece, was also present. Prior to the marriage witness had asked Posher if he had been married previously, accused replying in the negative. Witness then consented to Bosher’s union with, his daughter. They had lived together since. [Certificate of marriage put in. j Eliza Reece, daughter of the last witness, recollected the marriage of her sister, Mary Ann, to Bosher. She was present at tiro time. It (occurred on the 17th Aprils

1892. Her sister was still alive and living out at Petone.

Accused had no questions to ask. Sydney George Millington, chief warder at Wellington Terrace Goal, produced a letter written by Bosher in gaol to his second wife at Petone.

This letter, already referred to, stated that he (Bosher) had received a letter from a certain party asking him a few questions. Instead of replying he had decided to write to her (Mrs Bosher) telling her how their marriage relations stood. As he had told her before, his name, in French, was Brocher, but its equivalent m English being rather hard, he altered it to Bosher to make it sound softer. As

she knew, ho was in Akaroa some years ago, working for a man named Le Beau in Grehan Valley. At Le Beau’s request he married his daughter Josephine. Two years afterwards he left the place for Melbourne, with the intention of going home. He shipped as cook ou board a French boat that happened to be leaving at the time. He signed articles before the French Consul in Melbourne. tVhen he arrived in France he was arrested for not having done his military duty, and, after the lapse of a longperiod.be was brought before a court-martial at Lisle, in the North of France, and, because be had been naturalised without his parents’ consent, and refused absolutely at the trial to become a soldiar, he was ordered to bo imprisoned for three years in a military prison, and sent to Chalons-sur-Marne, 107 miles from Paris by rail. After he had been there two years he was sent to a place called Loquhat, in the middle of the desert of Sahara. When he was at Chalons-sur-Marne he wrote to the English Government and the New Zealand Government, and while in Africa he communicated w’ith the British Consul in Algiers, but none of his letters were ever sent, as he discovered subsequently. He managed to get away one letter, through a Morocco man, to the Minister of Justice in New Zealand, and he received a reply from the Under-Secre-tary, Mr Cooper, who was still in Wellington. ' After doing five years of soldiering, he was free to go anywhere ho liked. He went to Algiers and interviewed the British Consul, who said he had never received any of his letters. That w r as in 1890. He then boarded the s.s. Trinidad, and made for Liverpool, and took the train to London. Going to the New Zealand Office at Whitechapel, he made similar enquiries as to letters, and once again heard of their non-receipt. A gentleman connected with the office took him to the Shaw, Savill Company’s office, and procured a billet for him as steward on the Doric. Ho afterwards telegraphed to his wife at Akaroa, and she replied, “ I am married again.” He sent another wire, “Shall I come or not?” The answer came, “ No.” Afterwards he came across a few people who had been in Akaroa, and they had informed him that his wife was re-married to a man named Sergison. The letter concludes : —“ Consequently, I think we are lawful man and wife, befoie God and man. I shall wait for an answer from you about your intentions between you and me. I remain, yours, Stephen Bosher.”

The next witness called was Sergeant James O’Malley, who stated that on the 22nd October he read a warrant to accused in gaol, charging him with the present offence. Accused asked if the police had a telegram from his first wife in Akaroa, witness replying in the aflirmative, and showing him it. Accused said, “That’s it.” [This wire contained the word “ No” in reply to his enquiry as to whether he should return home.] Witness, continuing, said he obtained the telegram and the letter from Mrs Posher (nee Reece) at Petone.

Antonio Roderigues (recalled) identified the first Mrs Posher, who was then in Conrt. She was now known as MrsjSergison. This was all the evidence, and prisoner was committed for trial. He merely said he would have to get his witnesses down, but didn’t think ho would have time.

Inspector Pender said if he gave in their names they would be brought. t Accused said ho would give them to tlio Registrar of the Supreme Court that afternoon.—He was then removed.