MARRIED COUPLE ARRESTED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2884, 30 June 1909, Page 18

MARRIED COUPLE ARRESTED.

ALLEGED FALSE. DECLARATION. WELLINGTON, June 23. Colin Hector Kempton and Virginia Kempton, a young married- couple, .were Arrested on the steamer for Sydney and committed for trial to-day "on a charge of making a' false declaration to obtain a marriage certificate. The female defenv dant .is "only 18 years of age, and -th<§ father had refused to consent to the " marriage. The couple appeared in the Magistrate's . Court, to-day, before Mr W. 6. Riddell, S.M., on two separate informations. The male defendant was. charged with having knowingly and wilfully made a false 'declaration', on the 15th April, for t-He purpose -of procuring a xegistraVs Teettificate, under " Tho Marriage Act, 1908." , The charge again-sfc the female defendant was -that on the 15th Api-il.slie wilfully made a -certain false rstatenieht touching-a-particular required to be .known and' registered under the Marriage. Act. -• - Chiefrdetijctive Droberg, who prosecuted, asked that tho cases be treated- together. Tlie vpquest. was granted. Wilford defended. Thomas Willason. said that Virginia Marion Kempton -. was his daughter. Her .age was about 18, as shown, by the birth certificate produced. . Kempton nsked witness if he might walk with his daughter. Witness acquiesced, and v little later defendant asked if he might • marry her. Witness replied that he con- ; sidered that they had not known one another long enough, and he advised that they should wait until Labour Day. In a few days, however, Kempton informed him that they were .named. Witnegs had never given his consent. He thought that neither defendant was exactly aware v of the female defendant's age. Part of witness's own marriage certificate was false. Gilbert Graliam Hodgkins, Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, stated the two 'defendants called at his office on the 15th May. Kempton supplied the particulars under the Marriage .Act. He that the female defendant, v r as_ 21 years of age. The name of the. father of the girl was given by him, as Thomas Willason. Witness produced the book "signed and attested by hinv After the supplying of the particulars, which were read over tp both defendants, the marriage "was solemnised. Virginia; .Kempton gave her father's ,ak Thomas Willason, and hen mother's name as Kathcrine Willason, nee Doyle. Detective Abbott stated that when he arrested Kempton the. female defendant said, "It was my fault, I told him I was 21." -At the time they wer.e on the. point of leaving for Sydney, actually being' detained ■ on the boat. Defendants pleaded "Not guilty," and weTe committed -to the Supremo Court, for trial. Bail in the rase of Colin Kempton was fixed in one surety of £50. .Bail was -allowed Virginia, Kempton in her own bond of £50. A petition to the Minister for Internal Affairs is in circulation, asking that tho protection of weasels in JWhaaigaroa and Mangonui Counties be cancelled.