DOUBLE MARRIAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16201, 26 November 1926, Page 8

DOUBLE MARRIAGE

CHARGES NOT TO PROCEED (Received November 26, 1 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 26. In the Criminal Court the Crown Prosecutor announced that it had been decided by the Crown Law Office to enter a nolle prosequi in the case concerning the double marriage. ALLEGED PERJURY "RELIGIOUS SCRUPLES" MELBOURNE, Nor. 18. Last week a- married couple were committed for trial at the South Melbourne Court for having falsely described themselves as bachelor and spinster, on the occasion of their second marriage on the one day, for the purpose of satisfying the religious scruples of both parties. To-day a second scriesi of prosecutions was launched, when Edward William Pickerel and Violent Emily Pickerd, of Caulfield, were, charged with perjury. Rev. ,1. B. Ronald stated that he married tho couple on March 19, 1924, and administered tho oath to each. lie. admitted that his authority to celebrate marriages had been taken away—illegally, he described it—in 1923, but ho had continued to conduct marriages all along. Rev. John Jones, of All Saints', St. Kilda, also gave evidence that he married the couple on Juno 28. 1924, and they described themselves as bachelor and spinster.

Plain-clothes Constable! Charlesworth slated that when questioned Pickerel said that he did not think ho was properly married on the first occHsion. .Defendants were committed 1 for trial.