BIGAMY AND INCEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10615, 14 June 1920, Page 5

BIGAMY AND INCEST

TE PUNE SADDLER’S CRIME THREE YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION, CHRISTCHURCH, Juno 12. In the Supremo Court before Mr Justice Herdman, Henry Thomas Hurrcll was brought up for sentence ou commitment from the Magistrate s Court for incest and for bigamy. He pleaded guilty in the lower court to both charges. . The first offence was committed about eight years ago. The second offence was committed at Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, in 1917. when the prisoner went through the marriage service with Netta Gray. He was married at Rangiora in 1890, and his wile nvas alive. Mr Twynchara, .who appeared for iho prisoner, said that during tho past eight yetftvs the prisoner had livod at To Puke, whore ho had a remunerative business ns a, saddler, and whore, until the time of his arrest,_ he held the respect, of the community. Ho had not seen his wife • for four years. Ho was fifty-nine years of ago, and never had been before the courts on account of any crime. Counsel asked that His Honour should deal with him as- leniently as possible. “It is impossible for mo to take a lenient view of the case,” His Honour said to the prisoner. “The first crime to which you have pleaded guilty is particularly repugnant to the mind of the ordinary member of society. In addition you have committed bigamy. The police, reports a.s to your chiirßCitGi* aro not favourable. They say that you arc a man of bad character. You will bo sentenced to three years* imprisonment with hard labour for incest, and to two years with hard labour for bigamy, tho sentences to bo concurrent.”