TWELVE MONTHS' GAOL FOR A BIGAMIST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 115, 8 February 1919, Page 8

TWELVE MONTHS' GAOL FOR A BIGAMIST

___—^ —— SENTENCE AT SUPREME COURT. In 'the Supreme Court yesterday morning, Honour Mr. Justice Ed-, wards, several prisoners' found guilty earlier in the week wero presented for sentence. . William Gartbgate-.White, a taxi-driver who was convicted of bigamy in that, be■ing already married, to Esther Louisa Sinimonds, he did-go through.a form of marriage with Alice Winter, and that lie wilfully made a false-declaration for the purpose of securing a.Registrar's certificate, was the first to appear in the dock. * Mr. P. W. .Jackson, acting on behalf of Mr. H. F.' O'Leary, said that tho prisoner was a young man, "being only 31 years of age,' and this was the first occasion that ho had been before the Court. .His first wife intended to divorce him, and the second woman was willingto marry :him. His Honour said tlie offence of bigamy was a very serious oiie when the secondwoiiian' was deceived, and the second woman was deceived in this case.' ; The only possible reason for showing leniency would be to enable the man to act fairly by the second woman, but the second' woman would be belter off without him. White was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hajd labour.- ,

WINDOW-SMASHERS FINED." ' Arthur Barnes and William D. Henderson, convicted, of wilfully damaging a plate-glass window and a plate-glass, door in Cuba Street, valued at ,£59 3s. Bd., tlie property of Edwin Moult, were each' sentenced to two.years',probation, and ware further ordered to pay J33 each, tlie cost of the prosecution, on or before March 7, and Thereafter. per month each until each had pnid,:J:3o, .making- the total payments J26G. • A BRUTAL ASSAULT. . Michael O'Brien, .whowas convicted of. assault'causing actual bodily harm, when asked if lie had anything to say stated that any "gentleman" would have acted as lie did. He had three children, and his wife died recently. His Honour said that the prisoner had • not paid much attention to his family, for lie had been sentenced to six months imprisonment for being ft-rogue and a vagabond. He had been guilty of a-very brutal assault, and his record was a bad one. O'Brien was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. .. . . PRISONER REMANDED, Johannes Meertens, 5-t years of age, who pleaded guilty at Wanganui to carnallv knowing a girl under 1G years or age," was remanded to Monday in order that further inquiries might be' made respecting him.. ■