DOUBLE BIGAMIST

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1930, Page 2

DOUBLE BIGAMIST

“DON JUAN NOT IN IT.”

HARRIS GETS FIVE YEARS

SEQUEL TO AUCKLAND ARREST.

Arrested in Auckla-nd last January, a man named Arthur Ronald Harris, aged 34, lias just been sentenced at the Old Bailey, London, to five years’ penal servitude for bigamy. “I think you are one of the greatest villains I have ever had before me.” said Common Serjeant Sir Henry -Dickens in sentencing Harris. “You are utterly unscrupulous. You think you nan play fast and loose with young women of good character and destroy their lives. Your record is almost unbelievable.”

According to. the evidence be married a woman under his own name in 1923. Tn 1927, under a false name, lie married a second woman, and. in 1929 he again went through the ceremonv under a second false name. When Harris wn.s arrested in Auckland by Detective E. Nnlder be remarked: “T have nothing to ; T was wondering] hew long it. world be.” Harris was sent Home on ftp Botor”a and was arrested immediately tlie shin got to Southampton. “Tall, smartly dressed, of good address,” snvs “The News of the World.” in reporting the case at the Old Bailey, Harris was allowed to be seated during the hearing,

DIVORCED.FROM FIRST WIFE. /■ .Mr Gerald Dobson, prosecuting counsel, outlining the case, said Hams bad been divorced, and married a .second time on December 19, 1923, his bride being Miss Georgina Vance, lucre was a clula of that mannage. During 1928 he met Miss Robeita Uadiiin; of St. Marks Crescent, Regent’s Dark. They lived luge Liter from time to time, and then Miss Wadkin went to Skegness to earn her living as a waitress. She was away until June last year, and. meanwhile Harris improved the shining hour by trying to sell motor cars on commission. Mr Dobson thought, however, he was really riding about and malting advances to Miss Evelyn Newton, of Percy Road, Ivilburn. Miss Newton was only 20, and Harris met her in Hyde Park. He proposed to her in May last year, and they went to Chelmsford to see if they could get a house. In September Harris “married” her at Willesden register office, and they -went to the girl’s parents home for the honeymoon.

Harris sailed for New Zealand on October 4, and there was an understanding that Miss Wad kin should follow him out when he had obtained work. On the voyage, said counsel, Harris wrote ardent love letters to both his bigamous wives, In one, ad dressed to “Bob Darling,” he Said, there was a heavy sea running, and no one had taken much interest in anything outside their own ailments. He added:—“l wish I had you and my baby with me, I miss you both more than I can say, In the future I will fight for you and babs and make my one aim in life in bringing of you both tout, to me and happiness. I have never before wanted you a.s I do now.” In another letter, addressed “Evie Darling,” also written on the White Star liner, Ijbnic, Harris said the same ns he hnd said to “Bob Darling’’ —“You will have to excuse bad writing as the ship is rolling.” He went on: “I wish we were there, darling—T mean in New Zealand. I cannot tell you how I miss you, dear. Just go on hoping and believing that I shall win, and the time won’t seem so long, keep all the love you can, dear.”

DON JUAN OUTDONE. Harris eventually reached New Zealand, but it was deemed expedient, having regard to his idiosyncraeies and his weakness for exploiting the other sex, that he should be brought back to England. Counsel remarked that when arrested at Auckland he asked permission to speak to his landlady, and when it was granted he told her a tissue of lies about his past, and in fact had been making love to her. Sir Henry Dickens: Don Juan is not in it ! Counsel went on to say thay had found yet another women in England to whom Harris had made advances. Detective-Inspector Keech, of Scotland Yard, who arrested Harris, said the latter on leaving school entered the service of Barclay’s Batik. He joined the Inns of Court Officers’ Training Corps in October, 1915, and in August, 1916, was transferred to the Royal Flyings Corps as second-lieuten-ant. He relinquished his commission on account of ill-health in December, 1916, but later rejoined the B.F.C. as stores officer, and served abroad for six months. He was demobilised with the rank of lieutenant.. He married bis lawful wife when be was 20, on September 9. 1916, deserted her after two and a half years, and cohabited with another woman. Tn August. 1919, bis wife wrote and asked him to return to her. He renlied :

“I have nothing whatever to except tlifit I have no intention of ever liearin" or seeing anything nf yon again if it can be avoided. . . There is onlv one girl in this world that T love, and you have done your host, not casing one single iot, about me, to spoil o’ir little naradise.” Harris’ wife obtained an order for restitution of conjugal rights on April 23rd. 1920, and, as it was not, obeyed, a decree nisi was granted. This was made absolute on December sth. 1920,

Harris not putting y in an appearaince. A KINK. Mr' L. A. Byrne, defending, urged that there was obviously some kink in Harris’ moral outlook on life. Tt should, however, he borne in mind that lie had no previous conviction. Harris, from the dock, said he had nothing to say except to express regret for what he had done. The Common Sergeant remarked that he did not know if Harris hncl ever borne a good character, but be certainly had never deserved one. He passed sentence of five years’ penal servitude.