ALLEGED BIGAMY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 61

ALLEGED BIGAMY.

MAX COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. AUCKLAND, August 17

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, John Edward M'Kee, aged 37 years, w<i* charged that on January 18, 1911, »* llav'ra. he committed bigamy. May Smith stated that sh.: knew tlie accused and his wife at the time of their marriage in October, ISOI. and was a witness to the marriage ceremony, which took place at the bride’s home at, I’onsonbv. The couple left Auckland soon afterwards, but Mrs I.l‘Kee subsequently returned, and wa.s now living at Poneonby. Mrs Hannah Sanderson, mother of Mrs M‘Kee. gave similar evidence as to marriage. She stated that to the best of her knowledge her daughter hud never been divorced.

Thomas (Julian, the resist of births, dentils, and marriages at .V eeklaud, produced n copy of the records relating to the marriage. The young woman with whom accused was stated to have gone through a form of marriage, stated that tlm ceremony tooie place in the Registrar’s Office at ITawera on January 8, 1911. She understood tlial M‘Kee had been divorced from his former wife. She asked him whether he had any papers to show concerning the divorce. H« told her that they were so tattered and torn that he had had to destroy them, I rut that he could got new roping for £3. H* told her that Mr Wilford. solicitor, of Web. lington, had acted for him in obtaining the divorce.

Charles Hill, registrar at flawrra, pro. duced his records of the ceremony, and stated that he could identify the parties. M‘Kce reserved his defence, and was committed for trial.