THE LAW'S "PRESUMPTIONS."

NZ Truth, Issue 180, 28 November 1908, Page 5

THE LAW'S "PRESUMPTIONS."

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— To-day Mr Justice Cooper sentenced a man to seven years' imprisonment for bigamy. ,In 1887 he married a woman still alive ; m 1895 he married another and got two years for it. Afterwards he married wife No. 3, which was followed by him receiving a sentence ot six months for failing to support wife No. 1, and one month. for not tucKetirig, clothing and bousing wife No. 2 or sso.' 3. On the 12th February, 1908, he had wooed, won and married' wife .No. 4. For this multiplication of marriages he receives the following sentences : 2 years, G months, 1 month, and " years respectively—9 years and >7 months. In "{Stephen's Digest of the Law of Evidence," the following case is cited :— "in , 18H4 Z married A. In 1868 he was convicted ot bigamy m having m 1868 married B during the life of A. In 1879 he married C. In 1880 he manned D, and was prosecuted for bigamy m marrying D m the lifetime of O Tie prisoner at bis seeoju' trial