ALLEGED BIGAMY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1163, 2 November 1917, Page 6

ALLEGED BIGAMY.

The following appeared in yesterday's second edition only: —

OLD COUPLE CHARGED. VERDICT OF "NOT GUILTY." In the Supreme Court yesterday, before his Honour Mr Justice Sim,- Margaret Mary McCrackeu ami Chas. Hansen (Mr Cassidy) were charged with having committed bigamy at C'hristchurch on August 14, 1015. Mr S. G. Raymond, K.C., prosecuted. The charge mgainst the female accused was that being a married woman she went through a form of marriage with the male accused. Hansen was charged that knowing the other accused to be a married woman he went through the form of marriage with her. Both are over 60 years of age. The case for the Crown was that the female accused was married to Alexander McCrackeu on September 21, 1878. About 191'! she left McCrackeu, find went to live with Hansen. McCrackeu, said Mr Raymond, was not a competent witness in the case, but he 1 would be produced in Court. The female accused proceeded against her two sons for maintenance, and an order was made. Later the order against one of the sons was cancelled on his application. On that occasion the accused Hansen was present in Court and heard the evidence of the son that his father was still alive. That -was in April 1914. In the following September the two accused went through the form of marriage before the Registrar in Christchureh. The female accused, in evidence, said she lived in Leeds Street for 37 years offer her marriage. In 1913 she proceeded against three of her sons for maintenance. Her husband would do nothing. He was a chronic drunkard. He- applied for the old age pension, and it was refused on the ground of drunkenness. After witness got the order against her sons her husband said she could stop in the place no longer. Finally he threw her out. She advertised for a housekeeper's position, and that was how she met Hansen. When the application was made in 1911 for the cancellation of the order she did not hear her son, in evidence, say that her husband was alive and living in Levin. In May 1914 she was told by a man who came from Sydney that her son there had said that "the old man" (meaning her husband) was dead. To make sure she went to the insurance office and- asked if the policy on McCrackeu's life had been paid out. The clerk said he did not know, but he be-

1 lieved it ha! >•<■■ ■ I from the sm."- ')■' < , • :!•: had been pa: i ■ • ' : •:•-. firmly believe i -•' !■••• dead! Accuse 1 II: -.■■■. engaged the ;'' • <:■ '■■ . ■ keeper. He belie- ci was dead. The jury, afier n •V----returned to Courl w',:U .i guilty. I The prisoners \\ r " !. :