MUCH MARRIED

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1924, Page 4

MUCH MARRIED

.MAX WITH Til RISE WIVES. , WELLINGTON, December .3. . JuM as a well-dressed mini of prepossessing a p|x>a m nrr was about to take liis departure from the Dominion yesterday by tlie s.s. Rcmuera for London lie was interrogated by Detective .Murray, of the M’elington police force, and, after a short, sharp conversation, was placed under arrest on a charge of having made a false declaration in connection with the marriage which he had contracted with a young woman in New Zealand. After the interchange of a few words, in the course of which the man admitted that some of the suggestions put to him by the detective were based on fact, he was escorted to the police station. FIRST MARRIED IX AFRICA. The history of the man. sis obtained by the police, shows that Joseph Janies Groonette, to use one of his many names, has had a varied and interesting career, particularly in connection with his relations with the fair sex. It is alleged that, when not posing as Groonette, he took the name of Wilfred Alfred Ilewar; and it is said that in other parts of the world lie is known by yet another name. In lOlfi, Groonette was a resident of Johannesburg, where, it is stated, he was fairly well known. It is alleged that in that year he married a young woman named Fanny Thiekbore. who, so far as the police know, is his real wife, and is still alive. •Six years later saw Groonette leaving the dusty streets of the golden eitv* the veldt, and the karroo behind him, and taking steamer from either Capetown or Durban. SKC.iXD WKDDIXG IX I.OXDOX.

Tie next appeared in Loudon. Apparently the attractions of the ladies of that city made their impresssion upon Groonette, for in 19111, he is alleged to have united himself to a widow named Kisher. Hut the chills mid snows of the English winter seem to have driven him to a more equitable clime, for in his world-travels, Groonette. or Ilewar, was next seen in New Zealand. THIRD IX WEI.TJXGTOX. Here he again exercised his blandishments to good purpose, for in July 1921, he is reported to have gone through the marriage ceremony with a young lady residing in Wellington, to whom, it. is said, he represented himself, as single and a man of means. rnfortuuately for him, his real wife had not been content to allow matters to remain in abeyance; and, having heard that Groonette had come in New Zealand, she pul. herself in communication with the Police Department, with the result that when the detectives were advised of the details of the case they soon traced the man and arrested him as stated above. It. is said that a letter from his first wife, which had been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police in New Zealand, was shown to Groonette, who admitted that if was in her writing. ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. At the .Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the accused who was described by Sub-Inspector Kemp as a “ much-mar-ried man,” was charged with having made a false slatment in connection with his going through the marriage ceremony with a young Wellington woman, and was remanded until the Itlinst. Hail was fixed at C2(l(> in (he prisoner’s own recognisances and two securities of L'llK) each. It is stated that divorce proceedings are on the tapis. These have been instituted by his wife in South Alrica, and will he proceeded with as soon as possible. It is also understood that bigamy proceedings have been instituted against the accused by the local police. !