CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 4

CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

MARRIAGE IN NEW ZEALAND. SAILOR SEAT TO GAOL. How a sailor married a girl in .New Zealand after only two days’ acquaintanceship and then went Home and committed bigamy with (lie sweetheart to whom he was already engaged, was described at Liverpool Assizes when Roger Connolly, 27, of Bootle, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment In the second division for blgamously marrying Sarah McKay. When tiio steamship on which Connolly worked as a lireman was in harbour in Auckland, explained counsel for the prosecution, he went to a dance with a woman named Iris Alma Rowland. The following day she come down to the ship and told Connolly that she had taken n liking to him and would like to marry him. Having listened to her, Connolly, according to his own story, “took pity on her,’’ and the following day they were married at a register office. Celebration at ’lotel. After celebrating the event at a hotel tho couple did not see each other for a week, hut before the ship left Wellington for Home Connolly’s wife came to visit him. All this time Connolly was engaged to Miss McKay, and when he finally arrived home he went through a form of marriage with her on Boxing Day, 1931, at it. Alphonsus Church, Liverpool, by special license. Subsequently, when Miss McKay discovered now she had been deceived and that the marriage was not legal she left Connolly and did not desire to have anything more to do with him. “This is a very had case," observed Mr Justice du Parcq, passing sensenee as stated. “Here is a perfectly respectable woman,’’ llis Lordship told Connolly, "who believed you were free to marry, ami you deceived her In this way.” Connolly was dazed by the sentence and wept as he went down the steps leading to the cells.