AMY BOCK'S “ MARRIAGE."

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 19 June 1909, Page 4

AMY BOCK'S “ MARRIAGE."

ANNULLED BY THE JUDGE. WHAT WAS THE LEGAL POSITION ? Dunedin, June 17. In the Divorce Court this morning, before Mr Justice Williams, Agnes Ottoway applied for the annulment of her marriage with Amy Bock. Mr Solomon said that the circumstances of the marriage were well known. Respondent, posed as a man, and the ceremony was parlormed between the parties. Almost immediately afterwards, it was discovered that respondent had been guilty of a heartless trick, in consequence of which petitioner had been placed in a very humiliating position. She now asked for a decree of Court for auuulment of marriage. It was not absolutely necessary in a sense. Petitioner if she chose to get married' again, would be at liberty to do so.

His Honour:* Of course she would. Mr Solomon: But authorities are clear that it is very desirable that proceedings should be taken.

His Honour : I can see that it might be desirable to have some declaration. There have been cases oi the kind. Mr Solomon said that there was one that catrie before his Honour himself. Details were not the same, but the salient features were. It was a case heard some eight years ago, and was that of a woman who bad married another woman. The extraordinary part of that case was that the parties lived together for seven or eight years, at the end of which the matter came before his Honour for aunulity of marriage. The circumstances of this application were in no wav different from the case of a bigamist marriage. His Honour : This is a marriage solemnised between Agnes Ottoway and a person representing himself as a man, and calling himself Percival Carol Redwood. There is a marriage, and it appears on register that she was married to him. I think yon are quite right to have a decree of annulity.

Evidence was given by petitioner, Chief Detective Herbert, and Agues Simpson, gaol matron. His Honour then granted a decree of annulment.