WOMAN BIGAMIST

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1929, Page 3

WOMAN BIGAMIST

SUPPRESSION OF.NAME REFUSED. WELLINGTON, April 19. Margaret Irene Clark appeared for sentence before Mr Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court yesterday on a charge of bigamy. For the prisoner, Mr W. E. Leices- ' ter said that she was married in Christchurch in 1923, and there were two children of the marriage. Her husband was a waster and a drunkard, and she had left him on several occasions. She finally came to Wellington, leaving the two children in Christchurch. While in Wellington she received an offer of marriage, and as she was in ill-health and her work as a waitress was very arduous, she accepted, and went through a form of marriage with the man. She had been very happy with him, but wisely told him the true position. There was one child of the second marriage, and the man intended to get her husband to divorce her so that they could become man and wife. Under the circumstances, counsel asked for probation. His Honour: The probation officer recommends probation, but she suggests that the prisoner should break off her relations with the man and find work. Mr Leicester: That does not seem to lie a very happy solution, Your Honour. It would mean that the. child would have to be put in a home. His Honour-. It is not a particularly happy ease, and it all arises from this young woman telling a lie and saying she was a single woman. Accused was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years. Mr Leicester asked that the name of the prisoner be suppressed, as the Magistrate had suppressed it in the Lower Court. His Honour: I don’t think I ought to order suppression. The prisoner has escaped' punishment by the Court. The only other punishment is publicity.