FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BRIDE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 7

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BRIDE

AGE FALSELY STATED MATTER NOT TO BE TREATED AS JOKE Dominion Special. Dunedin, December 3. William Joliu rarsuns appeared before Mr. Justice Sim iu the Supreme Court this morning for sentence on a charge of making a false declaration at Cromwell under the Marriage Act. On behalf of the prisoner, Mr. J. C. Parcell said that there seemed to be very little in the case. Accused had given the age of the girl he married as sixteen, whereas she was fourteen. The declaration, in fact, amounted to very little. His Honour: Do not continue on that line, Mr. Parcell, unless you wish me to inflict a more severe punishment than I intended. Please do not suggest that the matter should be treated as a joke. Mr. Parcell: The man has not done very much wrong. He is a first-class boy. His Honour: If you will be so silly as to continue on that line you will drive me to inflict more serious punishment than I intended.

Mr. Parcell said that prisoner had a good character iu the district The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Adams) said it was difficult to understand why prisoner made the false declaration when he could have married the girl at her real age. His Honour: Could she contract marriage at fourteen? Mr. Adams replied that she could have been married at twelveHis Honour said that was so. A boy of fourteen and a girl of twelve could be married. . Mr. Adams ■ said that at fourteen the marriage was not void, it was only voidable. The girl had the necessary consent. His Honour'pointed out that the girl was under the age of consent provided in the Crimes Act. That, however, did not seem to have any bearing.

In imposing a fine of £5, His Honour remarked that in these cases it was not usual to grant probation, but to order a fine, or if the case were serious, to order imprisonment.