TWO MARRIAGES.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17589, 19 December 1928, Page 4

TWO MARRIAGES.

CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

THOUGHT FIRST HUSBAND DEAD.

CASE AT HAMILTON. That she thought her first husband dead, was the reason given before the Hamilton Court to-day by a middle-aged woman, named Annie Elizabeth Godfrey, for going through a form of marriage at Hamilton with a labourer named Wilfred Leonard Hunt. Mrs Godfrey was to-day charged with bigamy before Messrs C. J. W. Barton and A. Mcßae, J's.P. Detective H. A. White, who conducted the prosecution, produced au certificate, to show that on January 8, 1902, accused married Henry Godfrey at Wellington. The marriage was not dissolved, and Godfrey is still alive. On September 27, 1926, it would be shown that Mrs Godfrey went through, a form of marriage before "the Registrar at Hamilton to Wilfred Leonard Hunt, labourer. Evidence by First Husband. Evidence was given by accused's first husband, Henry Godfrey, commission agent, Auckland, who said he married accused at the Registrar's office, Wellington, on January 8, 1902. He lived with her in Wellington for eight years. From there they went to Auckland. There were four children of the marriage. In November, 1922, his wife left him, and he had not seen her since.

Detective White: Is your marriage with her legally dissolved? Witness: Not that I am aware of.

Wilfred Leonard Hunt, labourer, Hamilton, said he went through a form of marriage with accused at Hamilton > in September, 1926. He met Mrs Godfrey in 1925. When he married her heunderstood she was a widow. Detective White spoke of an interview he had with accused. In this she stated she met Hunt in 1925, and lived with him for 10 months as his wife before he married her. Her married life with Godfrey had not been a happy one, her husband turned her out from time to time. She admitted she had also left him several times before 1922. A few years ago she said she read a notice in a newspaper to the effect that a man named Henry Godfrey had died in Auckland. She believed this to be her husband, though she did not trouble'to confirm it. Thereafter she regarded herself as a widow. She did not know what had become of her children, one of whom died before she finally left her husband. She admitted that she went through a form of marriage with Hunt. Plea of Not Guilty. Accused, who was represented by Mr J F. Strang,, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. She was allowed out on bail, counsel pointing out that ac- • cused was looking after two infant children on* behalf of the Welfare Officer. -