THE MARTON BIGAMY CASE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1075, 18 May 1882, Page 4

THE MARTON BIGAMY CASE.

At the Marton R.M. Court on Monday, Frank Pearce Phillips was brought up on remand, charged with having feloniously intermarried with Marion Hempseed, his first wife, Avice Coree Phillips, nee Hawkes, being still alive. Mr. G. C. Esarn appeared for the prosecution, and Messrs. Madden and Hawkins for the prisoner. Constable Coyle, who arrested the prisoner, deposed that the latter, after being ■cautioned, made the following statement :—“ I was married at nineteen years of age to a prostitute in London; in consequence of which my friends cut me, and sent me out to the colony to get rid of my wife. Avice Coree Hawkes and her sister were passengers in the same vessel. I tried to keep out of of their way. At last we were •engaged, and on the arrival of the vessel in Auckland we were married at St. Barnabas Church, by the Bev. —Kissling. Six months after I received a letter from my brother, who told me my first wife had called on bim. I then told Miss Hawkes she was no wife of mine. The mistake I made was in acknowledging her as my wife seventeen or eighteed years afterwards.” Witness produced a certified copy of the marriage certificate of accused with Miss Hawkes. He believed she was still alive at Ponsonby Auckland. John Hempseed, being sworn, said —I am a farmer, residing at Katigitikei. I know the accused. He was a schoolmaster at South Makirikiri. I knew him about 13 months. He asked my consent to marry my daughter, and I told him yes, in 18 months. He appeared to be satisfied. My daughter will be 16 on the 9th of June. He asked my consent again. 1 said if he got the appointment he was after I would give it He said his papers were too late in going down I then refused. He asked again, and I said no ; he said he would wait till I was dead, or she was of age. I was present at the Magistrate’s office at Palmerston. My daughter was married there. I gave my consent.

Marion Hempseed, or Phillips, was being sworn, when Mr Hawkins objected. He said that they had no positive evidence of the first wife being alive, and another point was that no wife could be evidence against her husband. A long discussion ensued between council and Bench. Finally, the objections were upheld. — JU inganui Herald.