A HARDENED BIGAMIST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 15

A HARDENED BIGAMIST.

DESKEYING OF PUNISHMENT. TERM OF IMPRISONMENT. (Special to Daili Ti^-es.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 19. A sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment was inflicted on Joseph William Henry Darke for biga'ray. Darke was married in England. He went to sea, deserted his wife and children, came to New Zcafand, and wont through the marriage form with a woman in Christchurch. Mr A. L. Haslam, for the prisoner, said he was 32 years of age, and had been in New Zealand for six years. He beard a rumour that his wife in England was dead. Mr Justice Stringer; He only says he heard a rumour. Do not believe it. He simply deserted her and picked up with another woman. He seems to have deserted his second wife also. Mr Haslam: He says that he went to look for work, and that when he returned she had gone, and left instructions that he was not to be told her whereabouts. His Honor: He made no provision for his children in England. The Government officers there had to enforce the law against him. He does not seem to have behaved very well. The report to me is that he left his second wife, and has been living with another married woman. Mr A. T. Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, said that the information supplied to him showed that Darke had been living with his second wife. His crime came to light when she took proceedings against him.

His Honor said that Darke was in a relationship with three women. That was ambiguous at least, and he deserved an exemplary sentence.