BIGAMY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 565, 1 December 1915, Page 11

BIGAMY.

ACCUSED IN COURT. i " COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Lizzie Louisa Priston was charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Messrs W. H. Cooper, and C. P. Agar, J.P.'s, with committing bigamy at Remuera, Auckland, on October 9, 1912. Mr M. Donnelly appeared for the accused. Henry Thomas Ling, a painter, 40 Montreal Street, said he was present at a wedding in December, 1903, the parties being Henry Herbert'Priston and Lizzie Louisa Christy, also known by the name or Sligh. Senior-Sergeant: You gave the female away at that service? Witness: Yes, I did. Senior-Sergeant: Can you recognise the defendant as the girl you gave away? Witness: Well, I have not seen the girl since. She was very young then, and he could not swear that defendant was the woman. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson: You remember the name Christy? * Witness: Yes. Emma Lucina Archer, residing at 38 Francis Avenue, St. Albans, said she was present at the wedding when the.accused was married to Priston. Senior-Sergeant: Do you remember the date of the marriage? Witness: Not the exact date. Senior-Sergeant: Well is. December 30, 1903, about the correct date? Witness: That is about right.Maude Grace Constance Christy, said that her step-father's name was Blyth, and the accused was her fullsister. Witness was present at her sister's marriage to Priston on December 30, 1903. Lucy Mcllray, a single woman, residing at Remuera, Auckland, said she knew the accused by the name of Miss Priston before her marriage, and after by the name of Mrs Rafter. Witness was present: at a wedding, ceremony at the Iloraan Catholic Church, Reniuera, about two and a half years ago. . The parties were the accused- and a; man named - James Rafter. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Father Doyle. , * ! William Henry McEntee, residing at Remuera, Auckland, said he was present at the "wedding of the parties about October 9, 1912. Constable George Lambert, of Christchurch, produced a certified copy of a marriage which took place on December 30, 1903, at SL John's Church, Christchurch. The parties married were Herbert Henry Priston and Lizzie Louisa Christie. Witness also produced another certified copy of a marriage which took place on October 9, 1912, at Remuera, Auckland, the parties married being James Rafter and Louisa Hetty Priston.

The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Mr Donnelly asked for bail. This was granted, self in £IOO, and one : surety of £IOO. The accused was ordered to report herself once a week to the police.