WOMAN'S BIGAMY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 76, 16 April 1937, Page 8

WOMAN'S BIGAMY

Prese Assooiation.)

Probation Granted to Off&sder ' QUESTION OF DECEIT

(By

Telegrapb—

/ ' AUCKLAND, Last Night. "I would not 'like the impression to go ftbroad that the Court takes the view that bigamy eannot be a serious offence wben eommitted by a woman," said Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court when sentencing Jean Moore o'a a charge of bigamy to which she had pleaded guilty. His Honour said bigamy by a woman was just as serious as it was when eommitted by a man. A very important. thing to considor, said his Honour, was whether the other person had been deceived. This young woman had mado a long statemcnt to the detectives whieh had made a favourable impression upon him and which rang true. According to that statement the man who had brought* the information had not been deceived. He, however, said he had been. Had she been represented by a competent counsel in the lower Court his Honour said he felt sure the man would have been very vigorously eross-examined. The woman was now livihg with her lawful husband and her children and the Court was ^ot satisfied that she had deceived anybody. Probation had been recommended and would be granted for two years §m the usual conditions.