MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12122, 29 August 1895, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wednbsdvt, Auoufst 28th. (Before Messrs G. Carson and J. Laird, J.P.'s. ALLE-ED BIOA-T7. Kdward Williams, alias George Edward Williams, wua oharged that on the 7th April, 1895, at Patea, in the colony of New « Zealand, he did felonously marry and take to wife ono Mory Mear, Carey Jackson, hi» former wife, to whom the said Edward Williams was formerly married, being then alivo. - Sergeant Oullen oonduoted the pro-ecu-tion, and the acoused was undefended. The first witness oalled was : William Charles Vinoent, sworn, stated _>- ' he was a corporal in the New South Wales Artillery. Had known the aooused for about four years. First met him in Flemington, Sydney. Aocused beoame a member of the Artillery, and was in the samo battory with witness for about twelve m.nthe. He was married to a girl named O.rry Jackson, and witness wai present at his marriage iv Paddington, New South Wales. Accused waa married by the Bey. Mr Barry, ohaplain to the Now South Wales military. The woman acoused was married - to was in 117, Macquarie- street, STdnoy, and last bbw her on the 16th and 17 tb oE Augnst, the last occasion beingon the wharf as ho wbb oomiog away. Witness signed the register of themarriage, Thomas Godfred Hammond, sworn, said ho was a minister of .the Wesleyan Methodist Ohuroh of New Zealand, and was gazetted an officiating minister of that body. Knew the acoused Williams, and remembered him in Patea last April, when he , married him to Mary Mear on the 7th of the month, at Hurleyville, at the residence of Mr George Mear. Thore were a number of friends present. Mary Mear, sworn, said she' was the daughter of George Mear, of Patea. Had known acoused about eight months, and waß married on the 7th April lost. Lived_ together as man and wife for a fortnight, when Williams' lett her. He stated he did not liko Patea, it was too cold, and that ha was going back to Sydney. He said he was in, debt, and he wanted to escape from there. When ho went away he left a note saying he was going away for a short time, and witness would know the reason. Had no i.ea he had another wife, and first heard so from the police, and bad him arrested on a oharge of bigamy. Accused alwajs slid he was single. , This waa the whole of the evidenoa, and acoused reserved hiß defenoe. He was committed to take his trial at tho onsuing fitting of the District Cou t. -