AN UNUSUAL CASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17232, 11 April 1930, Page 11

AN UNUSUAL CASE

LEGALITY OF MARRIAGE IMPUTATION RESENTED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A prosecution of a mosl unusual kind was heard in the Police Court today, when Jesse Charles Hawkins, all oiigiuedriver, took proceedings against Louis Alfred .Silson, a market gardener, under Ihe Marriage Amendnienl Act, 1027. The charge alleged thai Silson, on .Jauuarv 12, "in the Fast Street Hall of the' Pentecostal Church of NewZealand, known as the Assemblies of Cod, New Zealand. did allege, expressly or/and by implication, that Hawkins and his wife (being persons lawfully married), were not truly and sufficient ly married. The magistrate reserved his decision. Mr. .1. J. Sullivan, counsel for Hawkins, said : "For some time past there has been suggestions, hints, statements, and starillgs ill the church. Unit the devil was among them. Seven or eight months ago Silson refused to shake hands with Hawkins. The shaking o.f hands is evidently important in this church. Hawkim asked Silson why, and Silson replied Ihal Hawkins ami bis wife were leading an improper life.' Hawkins, in evidence, said Silson was n dea-.on. and occupied the pulpit. On oik- occasion at a "lathering of church members. Silson asked him if his divorced wife was slid alive. Witness replied in the affirmative, and Silson then said witless was not now married i„ the eves of Cod. W>' proceeded to read extracts from the Bible, verses nine In eleven of foist Corinthians, chapter live.