WHITFORD THE WRETCH.

NZ Truth, Issue 217, 21 August 1909, Page 10

WHITFORD THE WRETCH.

A Bigamist Boobed. John Whitford's appearance before the Chri^tcburch S.M. was to explain, if called upon, the reason why he had, on April 28, 1909, married, as John Whit, ford Meayers, a bachelor and pipe-layer, a single woman named Ethel Howarth French, who had given birth to a child, of which accused was the papa. From the evidence adduced, Whitford married Florence Hilda Norris on October 5, 1901, and by her had four children, and up to the time of his arrest lived with her. How Whitford ' got into tow with the young woman French wasn't made quite clear, but he had represented himself to her as a single man and had m addition obtained £25 from her. He nad given her a little money. On August 4 Constable Jackson, who was accompanied by. Miss French, went to accused's residence, called Whitford outside, and confronted him with THE YOUNG WOMAN HE HAD WRONGED, whereupon accused ejaculated, "Is that you, Ethel ?" Accused further sairt he was married and that he had a wife and four children inside. In reply to Miss French, he said he did not like to tell her he was married. He said the ceremony took place at Opawa about nine years ago. Witness later went to arrest accused, and accused told his wife he had got into tro|ublc and would he away "for a day or two." On the advice of witness, he told her the truth, . and his wife replied : "I have Deen a good wife to you, and this is the way you have treated me." Whitford, for whom Mr Leathern appeared, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. On Monday last he appeared before Mi Justice Denniston and said that his age was 29 years. Lawyer Leathern, on the man's behalf, said that there was no doubt that the accused had bpen' guilty of this second marriage. He knew the woman some time before he went through the form of marriage with her, and when he got. her into trouble, she asked him to marry her. HE COMPLIED WITH HER REQUEST. Whitford had a wife and four children, whom he had kept fairly well until the lime of his arrest. In the Lower Court the second "wife" had sworn that the man had obtained £25 from her, but this Whitford denied ; he hadn't obtained that sum or any sum from her. Also, he had not given her £4, as sworn by her,' but £2, which he understood was to go towards the confinement exes. His Honor / didn't, seem to think the point material. They had the woman's sworn statement iii the depositions. Previous to this, said counsel, Whitford had borne a good character. He had kept his wife and four children up till "now, and they were now practically destitute. When he married the second woman he endeavored to support her aiso. A plea for leniency was put m. The Crown Prosecutor said the report he had from the police ''was that "the accused was not so satisfactory • a husband to his legal wife as his friend would have them believe. It was really ya bad case. • His Honor understood that the child ot the second woman was conceived before the marriage. The Crown Prosecutor said the young woman's testimony was to the effect that Whitford had made aavances to her as a single man, and promised to marry her. Finally he did marry her. His Honor said there was nothing to show that accused had actually got possession of the young woman by the act of marriage. He imposed a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment.