A PECULIAR CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 101, 6 August 1910, Page 7

A PECULIAR CASE.

SECRET MAIRRTAGE WITH A DIVINITY STUDENT. A case, presenting several unusual features, was heard at the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, when Minnie Pollock, aged 22 years, was charged wdbh obtaining goods from two local drapery firms to the total amount of £4O by representing to one that she was the daughter of a resident of Chertsey, and to tihe other that she wias a resident of (Rakaia. The accused's counsel said she was a woman of very good character, and there was absolutely nothing known against her, .with the exception of the present charges. She had had no guilty intent when she obtained the goods, and fully intended to pay for them. The articles had since been paid for, and he asked the Magistrate to deal leniently with her. The Chief Detective said that she was a married woman, and her husband induced her to marry him secretly. He was a lay preacher. - The Rev. Mr. Rule, who was in Court, explained that her husband was a. student in the Otagd University. The Magistrate: That unfits him for the position he is studying for: • The Chief. Detective .said that when they were married she returned to her home, and on occasions her husband went to see her after the marriage. He stayed with her people for a fortnight, but the parents did not know they were married. The goods had been recovered and the only redeeming feature about the husband's action was that he sent up the money and made restitution. |

The accused stated that her husband intended to provide a home for her, and told her to get as many things together as she could. The Chief Detective explained that she wanted to hide the fact that she was married. Before Pollock went into the family she was a good little woman, audi went to church regularly. The Magistrate said it seemed to him to be a very sad history. The husband was not before him, but lie would have liked to have had him before him to tell him higi opinion of him. This girl was J led astray bv a man who by virtue of his position, profession and age ought to have done the reverse to what lie did do. Replying to the Magistrate, the accused said she would go home to her parents to live. The Magistrate fined her £5 on the first charge, and convicted and dischargher on the second.