“BECOMING A HABIT”

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 13

“BECOMING A HABIT”

BIGAMOUS MARRIAJES. ‘‘lt seeiiis to hie that bigamy is in the Why of bOcbiriiiig a hab’.t Willi you,” said the Chief Justice (Sir AlichaeJ Myers) in the Supreme Court at Wellington on Alonday before passing sentelice of four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on George Gillies, boilermaker, aged 35, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy. Air. Gillespie, counsel for the prisoner, suggested that in View- of the circumstances and tlie fact that the offence was not a crime against the rights of property, a term of reformative detention might meet tlie case. His Honour said that although the offence Was riot oiie against the rights! of property, there were sohic offeiices which lie personally regarded as being very much worst; for instaiice, offences committed with violence, such as robbery, and offences against Woirien and girls, which were mote serious and deserved greater punishment than did offences against the rights of property. Bigamy also, in some circumstances at all events, was to liis mind an offence that must be regarded more seriously than offences against the rights of property. “In this case,” said His Honour, addressing the accused, “you first of all committed bigamy in Scotland in 1919, and for that offence you were convicted and imprisoned for eight months with hard labour. You then come out here and commit another bigamous marriage with a woman in New Zealand, it seems to me that bigamy is in the way of becoming a habit with you. The sentence of the court is that you be kept in prison for a period of four years with hard 1ab0r...”