BIGAMY CHARGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 907, 26 February 1930, Page 7

BIGAMY CHARGES

NEW ARRIVAL TO BE EXTRADITED TWO WOMEN CONCERNED Awaiting his extradition to England ) to stand trial on two charges of bigamy, Arthur Ronald Harris was | committed by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., I in the Police Court yesterday to prison in Wellington for the customary 15 ! days. Harris arrived in Xew Zealand in November last year and is alleged to j have contracted the bigamous j alliances under two assumed names ; within two years before leaving Home, j He was arrested in Auckland on Janu* , ary 21 last. Formal evidence on the application ; for an extradition order was tendered j by Chief-Detective Hammond. Mr. ! Smyth appeared for accused. WARRANT FROM LONDON The warrant issued by Inspector J. Keech, of the Metropolitan Police j Force, London, for tne arrest of liar- i , ris was produced by Detective Nalder. 1 He also exhibited photographs, de- i positions and copies of marriage cer- j tificates. These gave details of the j marriage at Cheltenham, Gloucester, i in 1923 of Arthur Ronald Harris, aged 2S, described as divorced, to Georgina Elizabeth Vance, aged 20. The second S was of the marriage of John Charles i Pelham, 29, bachelor, to Roberta j Jessica Wadkin, on October 15, 1927. at Marylebone; and the third that of John Harris, 30, bachelor, to Evelyn Alice Newton, on September 2, 1929, j at Willesden. The accused was arrested at the : garage where he worked by Detective Nalder and Acting-Detective Packman; Detective Nalder stated that in an interview Harris gave his correct name and admitted his arrival from England on tho lonic last November. Harris admitted he had been wondering how ; long it would be. Detective Nalder added that, in his presence Harris told the proprietors of his boardinghouse he had been separated from his wife , for seven years and that he thought she had gone to Canada and was dead. Harris added that he married again in 1923, but divorced that wife, as she went to live with another man. Harris considered himself free, the detective continued. Harris went on to say he , considered he would get out of the second charge, saying, "She will not give evidence against me or she will be in it herself.” The witness said Harris had not attempted to conceal his identity since coming to New Zealand. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: He did not marry the last two women under his correct name. An order was made for Harris’s committal to the Wellington gaol for 15 days, during which accused would have the opportunity of applying to the Supreme Court for habeas corpus. [f no application is made, accused will be sent to England in custody of the master of the ship on which he travels. I