GUILTY OF BIGAMY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16820, 24 August 1922, Page 4

GUILTY OF BIGAMY.

A MAM’S TWO WIVES. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Special to the “ Star.*’) GHhVMOUTH, August 23. A story oi two wives was unfolded before Air W. Aieldrum, S.M., at the Magistrate s Court this morning, when Arthur Ernest fay lor, an Englishman, following th« occupation oi litter at i>eniiistou, admitted having married an Otira school teacher, whom he led to believe that he was a widower, knowing that lie had a wife alive in Engiund. 1 he main charge against Taylor was “ that at Hokitika on October 22, 1920, being a person then married, he did go through a form of marriage with one Janet Alary Wylie, thereby committing the crime of bigamy.” Arising from this he was further charged with making a I‘aise declaration to the Registrar of Marriages at Hokitika. Detective J. B. Young prosecuted, and accused was represented by Mr W. J. Joyce. Detective oung said that accused *as born in England, and at the age of twenty-two married a girl named A label Fox, at Woolwich, in 1907. A child was born. Accused left for New Zealand in 1910, and left, with the Field Engineers in the Expeditionary Forces. He lived with his wife when another child was born, after which he returned to New Zealand, and later met a school teacher named Miss Wylie, v horn he married on the date named in the charge. One child was born of this marriage. The police took action as the result of a complaint received from the first wife. John James Corich, police constable at Westport, said that accused was working as a fitter for the Westport Coal C ompany at Denniston. When witness approached accused first, on October 6. 1921, lie asked liim if he was married in England, and if his wife and children were alive. At first he hesitated, and then be said. *‘ It’s no use beating about the bush. I don’t suppose they can liang a man for it.’ 7 He then admitted that he had a wife and two children in England, and that he also had a wife and child residing in Greymouth. At witness’s request accused made a signed statement (produced) to this effect. To Mr Joyce : Accused had resided in Denniston since the statement was signed, and was a decent, sober, hardworking man. Janet Mary Wylie, the second wife, rave evidence that she was teaching at Otira when she met accused in 1920. She understood from him that he was a widower, and they were married on Octol>er 22, 1920. at the Registrar’s office, Hokitika. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Greymouth Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was fixed at self in £IOO and two sureties of £SO each. _____________