CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15183, 8 March 1923, Page 4

CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

SCOTCH GIRL'S EXPERIENCES.

By Telegraph.—Special to Times. AUCKLAND, Wennesday.

The case in which a girl immigrant was charged with bigamy for having married two men in the * course of a few days was further ventilated. It appears that .the girl came to New Zealand at the request of a man named Clark, who advanced her £so'for the purpose, the arrangement being, that she was to be a domestic ; servant on his farm in the Wairarapa. Upon arrival Clark pestered, her with his attentions, and finally told her that he would not take her to his farm at Oarterton unless she married him. Yielding to pressure, the girl consented, though the course was repugnant to her, and Clark then told her that she must stay in Wellington under her maiden name until his sister came for her. On the voyage out she met a steward named Saunders, and they fell in love with each other. Meeting ' him after the marriage she told him her story, and he refused to believe it. The girl, however, Jold him that she was desperately miserable and unhappy, and unless ■ Saunders; took her away shs would drown herself. She | was stranded in New Zealand, and had I the burden of £SO debt owing to Clark, which probably accounted for \her marrying her employer. The following day she came to Auckland with Sannders, and, assuming her mother's name of Abercrombie (in order to cover up her traces from Clark) , she went through a "form of marriage with Saunders. His Honor admitted that the circumstances were unusual, but the offence was a serious one. The ,girl, who probably had had an experience \ which would be a warning to her, would be placed on prpbation.i Saunders, however, would be sentenced t» six weeks' imprisonment.