A "DEAD" WIFE'S STORY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3554, 17 August 1920, Page 3

A "DEAD" WIFE'S STORY.

REAPPEAR AFTER 11 YEARS IN KINGSTON BIGAMY CASE. A "dead" wi£: who paid a surprise visit to hoT husband's home in Kingston, told him a warrant was out against him for bigamy, and then disappeared, made a reappearance' in >cal polic court on May 31. Alexander -Percival West, a city special constable am] a .traveller was charged on his own confession with bigamy. At a previous hi a'ing police witnesses described how West came to the station and told them his lawful wife whom h: had been led to believe was dead, and whom he had not seen for 14 .years, had urned up at bis house, and abused him.

W:\st was told the Kingston police had no knowledge of a warrant against him, and a search of the neighbourhood failed to discover the original Mrs. West. SEPARATED BY . MUTUAL CONSENT.

She was called as a witni s- at Use later hearing, however, and gave her name as Cla.a W st. stating hat she was marri: d |te Alexander West at Gloucester in 1899.

Seventeen y>ar.s ago they separated by nritnnl "agre; menf, and he made i-cr occasional allowances-. ' Hp. wer.t to South Africa with a touring hcntrical company, am] sent her a little m.onev ■ from ther \

When West returned to England they met. but again separated, and she took a situation as a hous: keeper, in

which capacity she was still acting. Learning that hor husband had married again and was living at Kingston, she called on him om May 16, and thvy "had a few words." When she ?aid .she would hav-> him an'ested for bigamy, he replied that he bad heard sl.e had gone t>broad and died there. Lilian Maud Wist, told the court she, as Miss Middle on, mnivi-d Wo-t at Kingston "Registry Office in October 1917. He told her about his first wife, and said ha had heard she was dead. West had been it-fr? best of husbands. Tli'°- case was remanded for further inquiries.