BIGAMIST PUNISHED

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 9

BIGAMIST PUNISHED

“DESERVED EXEMPLARY SENTENCE” Christchurch, Nov. 19. A sentence of twelve months' imprisonment was inflicted on Joseph William Henry Darke in the Supreme Court today for bigamy. Darke was married in England. He went to sea, deserted his wife and children, came to New Zealand and went through the marriage form with a woman in Christchurch. Mr. A. L. Haslam (counsel for prisoner) said he was 32 years of age and had been in New Zealand for six years. He had heard a rumour that bis wife in England was dead. Mr. Justice Stringer: He only says he heard a rumour. I don’t believe it. He simply deserted her and picked up with another woman. He seems to have deserted his second wife also. Mr. Haslam: He says that he went to look for work, and that when he returned she had gone, and had left instructions that he was not to be told her whereabouts.

His Honour: He made no provision for his children in England. The Government officers there had to enforce the law against him. He does not seem to have behaved very well. The report to me is that he left his second wife, and had been living with another married woman. Mr. A. T. Donnelly (Crown Prosecutor) sadi that, information supplied to him showed that Darke had been Jiving with his second wife. His crime came to light when she took proceedings against him. His Honour said that Darke was in a relationship with three women; that was ambiguous at least, and he deserved an exemplary sentence.