To Save A Woman's Honor

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 6

To Save A Woman's Honor

■ ■- ♦ — - — EX-SOLDIER'S FALSE STATEMENT. Says Child Is Legitimate. (From "Truth's" Auckland Rep.) The honor of a woman and her child were pleaded as extenuating circdmstances' by Edward William Heasman when brought before Magistrate Poynton at the- Auckland Magistrate's Court charged having registered the birth of a male child as being legitimate. As a matter of fact he is a married man and the father of the Child m question, but its mother is 'a single woman. According to his statement to De-tective-Sergeant Issell, accused was married at the Brixton Registry Office m 1914. He enlisted for active service with the 7th Buffs on the outbreak of the war and was demobilised m 1919. During these five years Heasman and his wife did not see much of .each other, but evidently absence did not make the heart grow fonder. The marriage h*ad been a forced one and on account of her mode of, living accused found it almost impossible to live with his wife. Shortly' after accused was demobbed the wife obtained a maintenance order for £2 for herself and four kiddies, and he had continued payments under this up till his departure from England. In 1917 a single woman came' into his life and he lived with her at Richmond, Surrey. In 1920 he obtained a grant a free passage for himself and wife to New Zealand. With the single woman as his wife accused arrived m New Zeaiand\by the Ruahine, landing oh January 19; 1921. They took up their residence m Christchurch and .twelve months after their arrival m this country the child was born. The accused, it was stated, was devoted to the woman with whom he was living and the two had decided to "stick together." The accused had neither means nor intention of supporting his wife and children now residing at Portsmouth. Heasman appeared later before the Supreme Court for sentence. "Why didn't you get a divorce?" asked Judge Herdman. "I wish I could," replied the accused. "You certainly could," said Judge Herdman. "I will fine you £10, m default one month's Imprisonment."