WOMEN ADMIT BIGAMY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23965, 4 June 1943, Page 3

WOMEN ADMIT BIGAMY

♦ SUPREME COURT SENTENCES (P.A.) ' AUCKLAND, June 3. Three women came before his Honour Mr Justice Fair to-day for sentence for admitted offences of bigamy. Elsie McNair, aged 41, was said by counsel to have been under the influence of liquor when the offence occurred and the man- concerned was also affected by drink at the time,. Her legal marriage was now dissolved and she was free to marry. His Honour said the woman, committed a similar offence last year. The Crown representative said the Registrar of Marriages did not marry persons whom he believed to be inebriated. In imposing sentence of three months’ imprisonment, his Honour skid the prisoner was sentenced last December in Wellington for a previous offence and was just out of prison when the latest offence was committed. Hazel Mary Mann, aged 41, who had admitted obtaining credit by fraud, theft, false pretences, and forgery, in addition to bigamy, was said by counsel to have committed most of the offences when under the influence of morphia, having contracted the drug habit when she was a nurse, but she had almost cured herself of the habit. The woman was released on probation for three years and ordered to pay £35 restitution in instalments. She had obtained a fur coat by false pretences. Matehuirua Te Mana, a Maori woman, aged. 24, who admitted bigamy with a young Maori at Dargaville, was placed on probation for three years. His Honour said her husband, now overseas, was understood to be obtaining a divorce.