FARQUHARSON'S FREAK.

NZ Truth, Issue 121, 12 October 1907, Page 4

FARQUHARSON 'S FREAK.

Marries a Second Time.

Still Liable to be Prosecuted

for Bigamy.

A coach-builder named William Farquharson, who arrived m Dunedin from Victoria two years ago, has been hit very hard on the point by ungenerous Fate. Farquharson was married m Australia six years ago, but his wife turned out to be a person of sullied morals ; m fact her mother kept a brothel at Echuca, and the unsuspecting man Who had made a fool of himself had a hard row to hoe. He put up with her elastic virtue for some years, but she got too strong m her unconventionality, and they parted. He came over to God's" -Own Country '-to free himself from the evil recollection of what had been, and ponder bitterly Upon the knowledge of what might have been. Shortly after his departure he heard of his dishonoured missus's death and he mourned for her with great joyfulness, more particularly as he had met a girl m Dunedin who used to gaze into his eyes m the old enslaving way. Twelve months after receipt of news of his wife's death he married the second charmer, and life henceforth would have been a rosy dream had not the awful intelligence been conveyed to him that

HIS FIRST IMMORAL SPOUSE was still above ground and going the pace. Here he was faced with a charge of bigamy, and being lan honest person he went straight to the police arid told them all about it. Detective Herbert was the confidante selected by Farquharson, and to the credit of the police it must be said that they proceeded against the victim on the least serious of possible charges— that of making a false declaration. Obviously there would have been no prosecution, but for Farquharson's admission, and this was represented to Justice Williams by Barrister. Irwin, accused's counsel. The Crown Prosecutor pointed out that Farqhharson was still liable to prosecution for bigamy, the penalty for which was two years' imprisonment, or a fine of £60. S'Honor said he wouldn't assume at this stage that ACCUSED HAD COMMITTED BIGAMY. If he had he could be tried and punished for it hereafter. The best way of dealing with him was to make him pay a fine of £10. Three weeks were allowed m which to pay the penalty, It is satisfactory to note that the Dunedin girl is sticking to Farquharson, and that her father bailed him out when he was arrested.