BIGAMIST GETS TWELVE MONTHS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18008, 19 November 1926, Page 7

BIGAMIST GETS TWELVE MONTHS

LEFT ENGLISH WIFE, DESERTED CH’CH GIRL. A sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment was inflicted on Joseph William Henry Darke to-day for bigamy. Darko was married in England. He went to sea, deserted hi 3 wife and children, came to New Zealand and went through the marriage form with a woman in Christchurch. When Darke came up for sentence Mr Haslam said that, he was thirtvtwo years of age, and had been in New Zealand for six years. He heard a rumour that his wife in England was dead. Mr Justice Stringer: Ilq onl}' says he heard a rumour. I don't believe it. He simply deserted her and picked up with another woman. He eeems 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 Honor: lie 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 has been living with another married woman. Mr Haslam: He denies that, sir. Mr Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, said that, information supplied to him showed that Darke had been living with his second wife. His crime came to light when she took proceedings against him. Detective J. B. Young said that Darke was arrested in Wellington on account of a complaint by his second wife in regard to maintenance. Ilis Honor said that Darke was in a relationship with three women that was ambiguous at least, and he deserved an exemplary sentence.