TWICE A BIGAMIST

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1931, Page 5

TWICE A BIGAMIST

IMMIGRANT SENTENCED.

CRIME ADJUDGED SERIOUS.

WELLINGTON, July 21

“It seems to me that bigamy is in the way of becoming a Habit with you,” said the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court yesterday before passing sentence of four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on George Gillies, boilermaker, aged thirty-five, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy. , Mr Gillespie, counsel for the prisoner, suggested that in view of the circumstances and the fact that the offence fas not a crime against the rights of property, a term of reformative detention might meet the case. His Honour said that although the offence was not one against the rights of property, there were some offences which he personally regarded as being very much worse; for instance, offences committed with violence, such as robbery, and offence', ageinst women and girls', which were more serious and deserved greater punishment than did offences against the rights of property. Bigamy also, in some circumstances at all events, was to his mind an offence that must be regarded more seriously than offences against the rights of pi'o petty. “In this case,” said his Honor, addressing the accused, “you first of all committed bigamy in Scotland in 1919, and for that offence you were convicted and imprisoned for eight months with hard labour. You then come out here and commit another bigamous marriage with a woman in New Zealand. It seems to me that bigamy is in the way of becoming a habit with you. The sentence of the Court is that you be kept in prison for, a period of four years, with hard labour.”