FALSE STATEMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12009, 11 December 1924, Page 5

FALSE STATEMENT

MAN HELD FOR TRIAL. BIGAMY CHARGE TO COMB., “We afs waiting for the certificate of his first marriage and on its arrival he will be charged With bigamy,” skid the chief-detective in the MAgistrate’s Court yesterday, when Joseph James Groonette appeared to answer a charge of making a false marriage statement. Roy Allen Younger, deputy registrar 6f births, deaths; and ‘marriages for the Wellington district, produced the marriage notice book, which showed that on July 23rd lest a man homed Wilfred Alfred Hewen, 86, a fitter and bachelor residing in Wellington, had contracted a marriage with Lillian May Woodhouse. It was signed by W. A. Hewen. Detective Murray said that he' interviewed Groonette on December 2nd, and that accused admitted that hi# identity was Wilfred A. HeWen, and the facts that he had supplied to the registrar Were false. He -aid that his real name was Joseph James Groonette, and that he was horn in London in 1838. ,He admitted bojfig married in South Africa on November 24th, 1913, and the facta that ( he had suptdied then rhowed him ns a' native of Hamburg. He also admitted that on August 29th. 1923, ho married a women in London pnder the name of William John Hewer. Be landed in New Zealand by tho s.s. Corintbic in February last and filled -m the Customs declaration form under the name of James Joseph Groonette; To the charge Groonette entered a plea of not guilty, and Mr J. F. B. Stevenson, who appeared for the accused, asked for bail. - Tho chief-detective asked that ft be substantial as before hi# arrest the accused wes about to abscond, and the only thing that would hold him book was heavy bail. It was accordingly fixed in one surety of £209.