ADMISSION OF BIGAMY

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 7

ADMISSION OF BIGAMY

TAURANGA TAILOR’S PLEA

MAN MARRIED FOR 37 YEARS.

GIRL IN CASE ONLY A MINOR.

EVIDENCE GIVEN BY WIFE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 11.

Bigamy was admitted in the Police Court by Frederick Earl Hope-Pearson, aged 54 years, tailor, before Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., this morning. Hope-Pearson was charged that he went through a form of marriage in February, 1925, in the registrar’s office at Auckland with a young woman, at which time his wife was living at Tauranga. His legal wife gave evidence that they were married in 1897 at Rotorua. In 1931 her husband left her, going to Auckland. In March last he wrote asking if . he could return as he was “fed up with ’ the starvation conditions at Auckland.” She' replied affirmatively but heard nothing more until this prosecution. The registrar gave. evidence that the girl was a minor. The consent of her mother was given two days before the performed’ marriage. Mr. Hunt ordered the suppression of the young woman’s name but refused an application for bail made by Hope-Pear-son’s counsel. “He might have another lapse and marry another girl,” said Mr. Hunt. I m not going to give bail.”