MARRIED WITHOUT CONSENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1168, 26 June 1880, Page 3

MARRIED WITHOUT CONSENT.

"A story almost -Without parallel of a young women going through the ceremony of marriage without either her knowledge or consent was : unfolded at an English police court recently. Application was made to the magistrate for a summons against a young man named Barnard for making false declaim tion in reference to the age of the complainant. It was stated that Barnard had been for some time wanting the young woman to become his wife, which she refused to do, stating that she did not care enough for him to take such a step. At his earnest solicitation however, she went with him to a registrar's office—for the purpose, as she believed, ef going through the form of betrothal, common amongst persons of the persuasion, to which all the parties belonged. After the ceremony was over, she found that without her wish and consent she had become a wife. Barnard wished her to go home with him, but slie returned to her parent's home, and she refused to have anything to do with him since. She was really only a little over sixteen, whereas, at the Registrar's Barnard gave her age as eighteen. The Registrar's office being out ef the district of the Court, the applicant was referred to another magistrate. Under the circumstances it appears that that the knot that was so easily tied will be more difficult to unloose."