SINGULAR CHARGE OF BIGAMY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1548, 3 May 1887, Page 3

SINGULAR CHARGE OF BIGAMY

Wm. Bummers has been charged before Mr Slade, at the South wark Police Court, with bigamy. The faots were of a rery singular character. The accused called At the South wark Police Station i and complained of being molested by a woman. The woman denied the accusation, and said the prisoner was her husband, and had married her sister. The prisoner Admitted that she was his wife, but he had been devorced at the suit of the woman. The wife said It was tree that she had obtained a dooreo nisi, bat it had never been made abso'ute A month after the decree was granted the prisoner married her Bister. On this charge he wbb detained by Inspector Marriott. Mr Edwin, solicitor, who appeared for the accused, maintained that as the eecond marriage was dull and void by law, which prohibited marriage with a wife's Bister, the prisoner coald not be held to have committed bigamy Mr Blade held that the prisoner wpb liable for going through the form of marriage Mr Edwin urged that as defendant had been divorced, although the degree had not been made absolute, the charge could not be maintained Mr Slade said that was a question which he could not decide. Evidence of both marriages having been given, the second wife was called and stated that when she married prisoner she thought that he had been divorced from her deter, and that the marriage woold be quite legal. Prisoner was of the same opinion, and told her so. Mr Slade committed him for trial to the Central Criminal Court, but granted him bail m one surety of £20 B*il was at onoe tendered and tho accuaed left the court with the second wife,