DISCRETION NEEDED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18256, 27 November 1933, Page 3

DISCRETION NEEDED

POLICE & BIGAMY CHARGES LONDON, Nov. 17. Mr Justice Maekinnon, at the Glamorgan Assizes, suggested that the police should use greater discretion in bringing bigamy cases to the court, “'(’lie offence of bigamy,” lie said, ‘‘varies with its seriousness.” He said it was once regarded as sin ecclesiastical matter, and the authorities did not want any offence against the church. But to-day many ceremonies are performed outside a church, and although morally wrong, there are certain eases in which, apart from the moral standpoint, no real harm lias been done to the l first or the second woman. The case concerned an Ulster man, who cont racted a form of .marriage at Belfast shortly before leaving for France to serve in tho war. The woman he “married” has since been prosecuted for bigamy and discharged.

Mr Justice Mackinnou said that no jury would think of convicting the man, who was discharged. His real wife admitted that she bore him no grudge, and that he had treated her kindly.