BIGAMY CHARGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 30, 3 December 1943, Page 5

BIGAMY CHARGE

SERVICEMAN'S RECORD

LOCAL COURT PROCEEDINGS

When Cecil Waller Stanton (:?.")) a serviceman i'nini Waiuru was charged in the Whakatane Court before. Messrs G. Brabant and T. J. Cummings, .LP's, with committing bigamy by going through a form of marriage Avith a young woman from this district Avhen he AA*as already married a story of how an unsuspecting girl could be victimised by an unscrupulous scoundrel was re-, vealed. Sergeant Farrell represented the XJoliec and Mr B. S. Barry appeared in the interests of the. family concerned.

Constable G. C. Donnolly slated in evidence that he had interviewed the accused at a military camp when lie admitted having gone through the form of marriage Avlien lie was already legally married to Waipuea Dominion Wanda Kahui of Auckland. In his statement, he said that he had married when young man and had two children before, being divorced. His second marriage to the woiiian previously mentioned had also proved unhappy and lie intended obtaining a divorce. There were no children of the second marriage. I'n December of last year he had. met the young woman concerned in the present action ami had become friendly Avith her, finally agreeing to marry her on March

5. He admitted that he had not signed his full name correctly nor that of his mother's and contended that after the ceremony lie had made a full confession of his real status, and that the young lady had then promised to stand by him. There was one child of the marriage.

The victim of the situation told how accused had accosted her outside a picture theatre in Auckland whilst she was on holiday and had expressed a desire to meet her mother and family. She had taken him to her aunt's home where she was staying and a friendship had developed. After several requests to marriage, she had at last con-, .sen ted/ She had never at any time known that accused was previously married and it was not. until interviewed by the police that she guessed anything was Avrong. She had 110 intention of ever going back to him.

The evidence of accused.'s 18 year old legal wife showed that she had been friendly Avith him from the time she was. 14. years old. Stanton had then represented to her that lie was an army deserter. She married h'ini in Jannary of last year but later she admitted she had 'cleared out' and went to livef with her adopted, father again. Accused had however lived with her for a short time again lasL July when she asked him about securing a divorce which he refused. She had not heard of him since.

Accused pleaded, guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court. Auckland, for sentence.