WIFE DESERTER MARRIES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1929, Page 7

WIFE DESERTER MARRIES

WHITFIELD ADMITS GUILT PROPOSAL UNDER ASSUMED NAME. MONEY FROM VALUELESS CHEQUE. Bigamy was admitted yesterday by George Herbert Whitfield in connection with the form of marriage he went through with Florence . May Miles, widow, at Opunake on February 27. Sitting at Lew Plymouth, Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., committed him for sentence to the next session of the Supreme Court. Whitfield went under the name of Whitton in the coastal district, where he had been v/orking as a farm labourer. Whitfield also pleaded guilty: to a charge of fraud at Opunake on April 19. He obtained £6 from John M. Turnbull by moans of a valueless cheque. A conviction was entered for this offence, but sentence was deferred until e the higher couit has dealt with him.' :■ , ■ln connection with the false pretence, Detective Meiklejohn said that under the alias of George Herbert Whitton, Whitfield had gone to Opunake and worked on the farm of a widow, with whom he subsequently went through a* form of marriage. Later he visited , a Chinaman’s shop and asked for two cheque forms. One of them was presented to Turnbull and the other to another Opunake business man, who had not made a complaint. ’ Whitfield then disappeared from the district and vras arrested at Woodville recently. Whitfield was not represented, by counsel during the hearing of either charge. REAL WIFE LIVES IN MARTON. Phyllis Edith Whitfield, of Marton, said she was married to M r hitfield on January 3, 1925, at the Methodist Manse, Marton. There were four children, the oldest of whom was four in February and the youngest five months. On October 16, 1928, her husband deserted her and . she heard nothing more of him till his arrest. On her complaint a warrant was issued for his anest for failing to maintain her and her children. Her sister was married at the same time as she. Whitfield did not cross-examine. George Edward Spindler, labourer, Huntcrville, said he was a witness of the marriage. Florence May Miles, widow, of Te Kiri, said she had known Whitfield under the name of George Herbert Whitton. She met him in the ~firs£, week in January. She understood he was single and she agreed to marry him when he proposed later. They were married at the Opunake Registrar’s office on February 27. On the certificate they were described as widow and bachelor. The last time she saw Whitfield was on April 21. He gave no reason for leaving. No questions were asked by Whitfield. William Busing, farmer, Te Kiri, said he witnessed the second marriage. David Williams, postmaster, Rahotu, who formerly occupied a similar position at Opunake, said he performed the ceremony. Detective Meiklejohn said he saw Whitfield on July 2 at the New. Plymouth gaol while he was in custody on another charge. He said he had not known he was to be charged with bigamy. When shown the two marriage certificates he was told anything he said would be taken down and given in evidence against him. “Well, I won’t say anything then,” he said. /‘lf I have anything to say I will say it later on.” A warrant had been in existence for his arrest on this charge since June 19. “Have you anything to say?” asked the Magistrate before committing for sentence.

“I have nothing to say,” said Whitfield.