GIRL FORGIVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 688, 13 June 1929, Page 11

GIRL FORGIVES

VICTIM OF BIGAMOUS MARRIAGE PETTY OFFICER’S DUPLICITY “The young woman with whom he went through the form of marriage has entirely forgiven him,” said Mr. McLiver, appealing to Mr. Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court today, on behalf of Wilfred Minty, petty officer of H.M.S. Veronica, who appeared for sentence on a charge of bigamy. MINTY liad a wife and family in England, and took an Auckland girl as his second wife. The case presented difficulties from two aspects, remarked counsel. Minty had been In New Zealand waters for some years, but during his absence allotments had regularly been dispatched to his wife and family. The only excuse for his action, counsel claimed, was that the prisoner had committed the crime in a moment of mental aberration. Appealing to his Honour not to impose a term of imprisonment, Mr. McLiver said that if this was done, Minty would be eourt-martlalled on his release and would lose the privileges which he was due to receive on completing 22 years’ service, over 19 years of which he had served. His wife and children would also lose the allotment jf Minty was sent to gaol. His character had been excellent until this The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. Meredith, said that he had been informed by one of the officers that no further action was contemplated by the command. He was unaware whether a court-martial would he held if Minty was gaoled and he undertook to inquire of the naval authorities as to the procedure. Sentence was accordingly deferreci until tomorrow.