BREATH OF SCANDAL

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6572, 5 February 1925, Page 5

BREATH OF SCANDAL

WALTHAM MARRIAGE FRAUD NEW VERSION OF CASE Many tongues have been wagging in the Waltham district during the past week concerning the case of the Waltham girl who was nearly duped into marriage with a man who already has a wife and three children living in Christchurch, says the Christchurch Star. With the object of putting a stop to scandal, the young lady concerned, accompanied by her brother-in-law, called at the Star office. The main facts contained in the report were entirely substantiated by the young lady, but she explained that the references to her having bought a new bungalow with her own money, and to her having given the man money on several occasions and also bought his wedding suit, were quite Inaccurate. '

Regarding the house, she stated that it was not a new bungalow, but a semi-bungalow that had been built some years. The prospective bridegroom was renting it at a rental of 28/6 a week, and he was supposed to be “baching” in it for some days prior to the exposure. She had pot bought any furniture for the house, but on Tuesday, January 6th, the man had shifted a few articles of furniture in in order that he could “bach” there. She also denied that she had undertaken to bear any of the wedding expense usually paid by the bride or her parents.

“Although the man believed that I had money, I am just a working girl, and have had to work hard for all I have,” she stated, when asked if it was true that the imposter was after her money. She explained that she kept the prospective bridegroom in the dark as to her means, and he got hold of the idea that she was wealthy. The man was a returned soldier, and a carpenter by occupation, and had been living in Linwood with his wife and family. She had been introduced to him by a friend about three months ago, but he had not given her an engagement ring. She had had no reason to suspect that he was a fraud before she was told of his deception. Explaining the circumstances under which the imposter was unmasked, in the Botanic Gardens on Sunday before the Wednesday fixed for the wedding the young lady said that her friend, accompanied by her husband, saw the man on a seat with another woman. Approaching the woman, she asked her: “Are you this genieman’s wife?” She replied that she was, whereupon the friend asked: “Can you show me your marriage lines?” Again the woman replied in the affirmative, and the man then admitted that he was an imposter.