A MELBOURNE SENSATION. Forgery, Fraud, and Bigamy in High Life.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 82, 27 December 1884, Page 3

A MELBOURNE SENSATION. Forgery, Fraud, and Bigamy in High Life.

Tin; Melbourne "Herald" has published the following ".startler" in reference to a matter which was brielly reported in our telegraphic column? a few days ago :— " It is most likely that \\ ithin a very short time society will be startled by a prosecution for bigamy, the alleged offender being a person whose career has> been, accoiding to all accounts, a most remarkable one in many respects. He came to the colony some years igo under an assumed name, and was shortly afterward followed by his wife, who instituted some proceedings for desertion of his children. An arrangement was, however, come to, and the parties proceeded to another colony, wheic the man entered into business. Hi> career, however, was not of an altogether honourable nature, and after !-ome .serious leverses he cams back to Victoria. Some time aeo he made the acquaintance of a young lady residing in a southern suburb. The man is a person of most presentable appearance, commanding presence, and with a manner which is irreproachable, so iar as outward appearance is concerned, lie made an impression upon the young lady in question under the guise of being a single man, although he had left his wife in another colony. His addresses were received w ith favour, and eventually he was an accepted suitor, and iinally went through the marriage toim. The young lady is a member of a well-known family, and the exposure which must shoitly be expected w ill be of :i most painful charactci to her and to all her relatives. It appeals from what we can learn, that the lady's mother heaid «ome rumour of the ti-ue state of the case and questioned her danghter's husband regarding it ; but he denied ever having been married, and gave an explanation as to the circumstances which gave rise to the rumour. The explanation was not altogether creditable to the man ; but it at any rate satisfied the mother that her daughter was at least a lawful wife. At last, it seems, the real wife has been informed of the true state ot the case, and is about to come to Melbourne to prosecute her husband. It is to be sincerely hoped, for the sake of the unfortunate young lady who occupies the position of wife to another woman's husband, that the public exposure may be averted ; but in any ca^e the true facts must become known among the young lady's extensive circle of friends and acquaintances. We are in possession of full information as to the three names the heartless rascal has been know n under, his offences, which are said to include forgery and fraud, as well as bigamy, and his career for some yeais ; but we lefrain from publishing them on account of the young lady who has been so shamefully deceived. Should the exposure become inevitable, we may bo inclined to give tho man's complete history, which is extraordinary in vciy many respects."