OBJECTED TO MARRIAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 829, 25 November 1929, Page 1

OBJECTED TO MARRIAGE

FATHER ANNOYED WITH YOUNG COUPLE HUSBAND AND WIFE CHARGED \Y 11A NO A RET. Today. lu the Whangarei Magistrate'? Court this morning before Mr. G. X. Morris, S.M.. Eleanor Benson Platt and AY i lli ain Platt, ■were together charged with making a false statement to the registrar of marriages with respect to the age of the former. Joseph Ritson. a miner of Hikurangi, and father of the female accused, said the male accused. William Platt, had asked permission to marry his daughter, but he refused because of his daughter’s youth. Later he found out they had married without his permission. Cross-examined, witness said that his only objection to the marriage was his daughter’s youth, but later also said he objected to the man. He denied saying to his daughter. “You have made it hard for me and I will make it hard for you.” He admitted informing the police, as he considered the accused Platt was not worthy of his daughter. He informed the police in order to have both accused punished. He did not know of his daughter’s condition when Platt asked for his consent. Platt did not explain to him, and he denied that Platt told him. He would have refused his consent if he had known about his daughter.

Constable Quinn, of Hikurangi, said he interviewed Platt, and told him he had heard that he had married a girl under 21 years of age without the permission of her parents. Platt said he had done so. Later witness interviewed the female accused, who also made a statement admitting she had married under age, and against her father’s wishes. Witness had known accused for several years. He was a steady and hard-working man. William L. Donohue. deputyregistrar of marriages at Whangarei. said that on July 26 both accused came to his office and filled in the particulars for their marriage, and were married three days later. Continuing, witness said only one signature was required. Objection was taken to Platt signing, as he resided outside the district, and he did not sign the register. Both accused pleaded not guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for trial. They were admitted to bail, and ordered to report to the police once a week.