MILLS, THE MORMON

NZ Truth, Issue 580, 29 July 1916, Page 5

MILLS, THE MORMON

One Man: Iwo Wives

Christchurch Courtship Ends m Court Case

Dramatic Development m Dunodin

Six Months' Imprisonment for a , Bigamist

(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)

Recently at the Dunedin Magistrate's Court, Alfred John Mills was charged, before Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., with "that (1) on July 7 last at Christchurch, being a person already married, he did go through a form of marriage with one Sarah Adelaide Whisker;" and (2) "that, on May 25 last, at; Oamaru. did fail to ' provide his wife, Rebecca Mltls, with adequate maintenance." The first charge was proceeded with, Lawyer C. N. Scurr representing the accused. Both women were present m Court. ■ Annlo Elizabeth Wilson, sister of the legal wife, stated that she was a witness to the marriage, which took place on July 3, 1914, between the accused and Rebecca Borthwlck. Witness's sister was - A WIDOW AT THE TIME. The parties were married at Kaitangata by the Rev. McDowell, Presbyterian minister. The second witness to the event was one H. Bowden,' a miner. Mr. nnd Mrs. Mills afterwards lived together a.s man and wife at Kaitangata and other places. Sarah Adeluldo Whisker, the second "wife," next stopped into the witnessbox. She was heavily veiled. She became faint during the course of her evidence, and had to be accommodated with a sent near the press table. She said that prior to July 5 she had been employed as a barmaid at Christchurch. On June 30, hi the same city, she met tho accused, who was Introduced to her by a male acquaintance, and for Rome days afterwards he kept company With her. • Ho gald his name was Alfred John Bamford, a widower, that his wife had died some months ago m Dunedin, and that ho was a traveller, representing Davloß and Wauchop, a Christchurch firm. On July 2, with some friends, they, went for a motor drive, and during the courso of tho day he proposed marriage to her. On tho following day she accepted him. On July 7 sho went through the form of marriage with him at the house of her cousin, Francis George Kidd, 214 Canal Reserve. Bromley, Christchurch. They were married by the Rev. John Patterson* Presbyterian minister. The same day they came to Dunedin, and obtained accommodation at the Grand Hotel. She lived with htm there. Ho was arrested on tho night of July 8 on the charge of wife desertion. At no time did he speak much about his position. Constable McCuUock said that At 10 p.m. he, with Constable Kelly, went to the Grand Hotel to arrest the accused on a charge of wife desertion. At tho time accused was a stranger to the constables. He was located m bedroom 34. He came to the door and said his name was Bamford, Davis and Wauchop's traveller, from Chriatchurch. "You were m Penrose's (Dunedin) about a year ago," said witness, and' accused answered, "Yes." Witness then said, "I have a bit of blue paper for ydu from your wife." Accused said, "I have my wife liere in ' the room with me." He was then arrested as Alfred John Mills, and he afterwards admitted that that was his name. On the following' day, at the police station, ho heard Jnsa Whisker speak to tho accused. Sho said to him: "Is it true that you have a wife and children at Oamaru?" He said, "Yes." She next remarked, ''And you went through the form of marriage with mo at Christchurch?" He Maid, "Yob. 1 The woman said, "And why did you do It?" ACCUSED REPLIED, ••LOVE." In answer to a charge of bigamy, accused answered, "Yes," and wltn«us said, "What do you mean by 'Ye»'?" and aucuxbd replied, "It is true." He further said that he was very sorry for Whut he had done to the young woman; he hud found her a lady, although he had thought her something else. The witness next oaked, "What do you mean by a lady?" and the accused answered, "A chaste woman." Tho accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence, Sub-Inspector Broberg informed his Worship that tho charge m respect to maintenance upon which the* warrant was Issued on May 3 last, was now withdrawn at the rcquost of the wife. On Friday of lost week Mills appeared for aentenco before hii Honor Mr. Justice Blm at the Dunodin Supreme Court. Accused was represented by Lawyer C. N. S^urr, who had much to say m a plea for leniency for his client Until May of this year Mills hud lived happily with his wife and children. Then ho went to Christchurch from Oamaru. During hi» lime In Chrlatchurch he took to drink, to which he had not been previously addicted. Probably drink clouded His faculties and was a means of inducing him to commit the offence. Hitherto his character had bean good. There was another aspect of the case which should be taken into consideration. WHILE EVERY SYMPATHY should be extended to Miss Whisker, the young lady with whom prisoner went through the form of marriage, sho, to Homo extent, had disentitled herself to sympathy by reason of tlit* haute In which the marriage wan ruahed on. They met on June 30 last. Prisoner proposed marriage on July 2, and aho accepted htm the following day. Thoy were married on July 7, and prisoner was arrested tho following day at Dunedin. Prisoner had been In business In Dunedin: he had had tnlsforiune» m buninc«i, but hl« character for honesty romulned (food, ills wife wa« willing and very uijxUjuh that ho should return to her on the expiration of. the uent«nco.

Crown Prosecutor McGregor «ald that prisoner* chanicter wiu reported oa IndlfferonL. He arrived m Dunedin from Sydney m February, 1907. and ww 34 your* of age. He uald ho wan born In England. He was apparently a good worker, but when m bualne«» on h!« own account he got into difficult i™. While employed In a Hhop m Dunedln ho wwi given £C by M* shppmatoa to invent on a rneohorso. The horse won but Mills wan not «een again. Apparently h« got away with the dividend.

Mills wnu s«ntenoed to six months' Imprisonment with hard labor.

Kdltar; "I can't we anything In that manuscript of yours." Struggling author: "I prwiume not; but you know, Dome of your reader* may be more Intelligent 11