BIGAMY CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1930, Page 6

BIGAMY CHARGES

AGAINST MIGRANT

By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright

AUCKLAND, February 25

A tale of a young-man’s many romances was told at the Police t ourt when a motor salesm'an, Arthur Ronald Harris, aged 34, an Englishman, was charged with committing bigamy. ft was alleged that Harris had four wives. Documentary evidence was produced alleging that the accused, under his correct name, married Georigiana Vance aged 20 years, on December 19. 1.913 at Cheltenham, ■ Gloucester, and that on October 15, 1917, Under the name of John Charles Pelham, he married Roberta Jessica Wadkin, in the Registrar’s office, Marylebone, London. Then under the name of John Harris, on Sept. 2. 1929, the accused married Evelyn Alice Newton, aged 20 years, at Willesden, in Middlesex, England.

Detective Nalder produced the original informations a.h(V depositions of Jessie Koeeh. Georgina Harris, Roberta Jessica Wadkin, Evelyn Alice Newton, and Keiinc'fTi'Morgbii. and also exhibits of photographs, of the aroused, and certified copies of tlie marriages of Arthur. Ronald .Harris with Georgina Vance, and of John Charles Pelham to Roberta Jessica Wadkin, and also of John Harris to Evelyn Newton. Three letters were also produced. All lie documents Tore the signature of the British Home Office..

6n January 21 ..'last atAuekland, with Detective Packman, witness said lie arrested accused at a garage where he was employed in Newton.

Ineffective Nalder asked accused his full name.

Harris said it was “Arthur Ronald Harris.” Accused admitted that he arrived in Wellington by the lonic from England last November. The original warrant was read to the accused, said the detective, and he admitted that lie was the. person named in the warrant. “I have nothing to say.” lie said. “I have been wondering how long it would be,” Harris said when asked, to go to the detective office.j The accused was taken to his lodging in Parnell, where he had told the propri tress tjiaU.-hw- Wiis-jnai.u'.ied and was separated from his wife for seven years. . “1 thought she had gone to. Canada and was. dead. .1 married again in 1923., but J,divorced that,wife, because she Went to Jive with another mail. 1 consider I was,free,” lie said. He added that he was first married in 1916, and that it was a war marriage. “1 think I will get out of the second charge,” Harris told: witness. • “She wilj not give evidence -against me, or she will he in it herself.”

Replying to eounsofTfir accused, witness said-’ Hiif'fif! came'to’Neiw.'Zealand under iriscorrect name, and lived under his correct-name. He inade no' attemjit to-conceal his identity; j Mi- Hunt, S.M .. said the accused-did not marry the last two women under liis own name. V

'Chief DetoctiyO': Hammond then asked that Uik nccused ho-sent - -tp- ; Wellington : to THiCsuVFendefed'kt; thet" -"eX L pin- "of 15 days”..and afterwards-- to -he sent hack toil|ngland under tlie Fugitive Offenders .jAdt, 1927. The Magistrate made tlie order.