FALSE DECLARATION

Southland Times, Issue 19292, 10 July 1924, Page 5

FALSE DECLARATION

BREACH OF THE MARRIAGE ACT. (Special to the Times). DUNEDIN, July 9. A few months ago the police received information to the effect that a young girl had disappeared from her parents’ home in the south and on inquiries being made it was discovered that the girl, who was 17 years of age, had been married in Dunedin on June 13 last. The sequel was heard in the City Police Court this morning, when a young man 22 years of age and a neatly dressed woman appeared in the dock, charged with having knowingly and wilfully made a false statement respecting the age of the female accused in the Marriage Registry Book. The accused were not represented by counsel. Chief-Detective Lewis conducted the prosecution. Alex Robert Kennedy, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages at Dunedjn, said that on June 12 last the male accused lodged an application with witness for the marriage of himself and the other accused. On the following day the accused signed the statutory declaration in the Marriage Notice Book, which was signed in the presence of the Jemale accused. The marriage ceremony was then performed and both then signed the Marriage Register. The ages as stated were male accused 22 years last birthday and the woman 21 last birthday. These ages appeared in the Marriage Register and in the Marriage Notice Book. Witness produced a certificate of birth of the female accused, showing that she had been bom in 1907. Detective Hart said that inquiries had been instituted by the mother of the female accused in regard to the whereabouts of her daughter and witness then interviewed the male accused who made a statement. The accused admitted that be knew that the girl was only 17 years of age but he had given the age as 21 in order to gt* married. Witness also read a statement made by the female accused. She said that she first met her husband in March of the present year. The Chief-Detective said that he was wondering whether any good would result in the publication of the names of the accused. The Magistrate: ‘T wonder if any good would be served by not publishing the names?” However, he would leave the question to the discretion of the reporters. Both accused pleaded guilty and were remanded to appear for sentence at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. The accused were admitted to bail in their own recognisances, a condition being made that the male accused reported once a week to the police.