BIGAMY AS A HABIT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 270, 15 November 1945, Page 8

BIGAMY AS A HABIT

LABOURER SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS’ GAOL (P.A.) Auckland, Nov. 12. "He seems to have made a habit of contracting bigamous marriages,” said Mr. Aekins on'behalf of James Groonotte, aged 52, labourer, who appeared before Mr. Justice Callan for sentence on a charge of committing bigamy. “There seems to have been five such marriages in his life," added counsel. Prisoner was charged with having gone through the form of marriage with a young woman at Mangere in 1941, when the wife to whom he was married in Johannesburg in 1913 was still living. Mr. Aekins said the prisoner was not of strong mentality and was easily influenced. His Honour said this bigamy was very bad indeed and must he dealt with accordingly. Counsel had been forced to admit that prisoner had almost made a habit of this and there was no measuring the suffering that such a man could inflict on unfortunate women and children whom he usually deserted. This offence was aggravated because in 1940 he was definitely informed that Ids wile in South Africa was still living. He would he sentenced to four year.’' imprisonment with hard labour.