ALLEGED BIGAMY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 148, 1 October 1910, Page 5

ALLEGED BIGAMY

AN INVOLVED CASE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Mannnadukie Dove Wilson appeared before Mr. Bartholomew, S.M., in tihe Pol'ice Court this morning on a charge that on June 3, at Dunedin, he did commit 'bigamy, in tih-.it, -bei-iuai a married mail, <hie did go through a form of marriage with Harriet Louisa Waites. Sub-Inspector Phair said that accused ■lived for many years in Nelson, when thie. Sub-Inspector first fonew hiim. He was a married: man, with a delicate wife and family. Some years after his wife died, and 'later on Wilson became acquainted with Mrs. Minnie Jeninens, a resident of Nelson, whose husband had left her some years 'before. Mrs. Jennens and Wilson agreed .to get tain a marriagje certificate a declaration had to il>e made that accused and (Mrs. Jennens were married on September 11, 1901. Some difficulty was experienced in getting ami mister to officiate, One minister objected to have anything to do with the marriage. Until December 4, 190!), they lived together as man and wife. Owing to something! that happened accused left Nelson amd came to Dunedin, and, on June 3, 191KX, married Mrs. Waites. Accused was married in tihe name of Marmaduke Dove. He apparently dropped his surname Wilson. Oin the other occasion lie was married in the name of Marmaduke Dove Wilson. His second wife was .killed on July 2, but Mrs. Jennens is still alive. Evidence was given by William Robertson, who stated that Mrs. Jennens was his mother-in-law. Rev. H. B. Gray gave formal evidence. Mr. Payne, who appeared for accused, submitted that a prima facie case ■ had' not be made out against the accused. He would prove that Thos. Jennens was alive at the time of Wilson's marriage to Mrs. Jennens. Wilson did go through a form of marriage with Mrs. Jennens, but the police had to prove that it was a valid marriage and that Jennens was dead at the time the marriage was celebrated. Two years before Wilson married Mrs. Jeninens, Thosu Jennens was convicted of illicit distillation on the West Coast. That strengthened the case, because if an absent person were heard of within s:-.ven years from the time of absent-inisr himself, it could not be legally presumed that ho was dead. The Magistrate said he considered the police had proved all the formalities necessary. Accused said that three vears after he married! Mrs. Jennens she -jiot a letter from a lady in WeMiniajton stating that Jennens was alive. Witness went on to say that Jennens returned to Nelson. Evidence was .given Iby George Wilson and -Sarah Thomas, a son and daughter of accused. Each deposed as to haying seen Jennens after Wilson's marriage with Mrs, Jennens. Counsel referred to a. telegraphed statement that Jennens had been seen by Ma'. Bnufshav, J.P., since the marriage of accused with Mrs, Jennens. There was no doubt that when Wilson and Mrs. Jenn?ns went through a form of marriage they believed Jemnens was dead. He applied for an adjournment so that evidence from Brad-shaw could be obtained. The Magistrate, said the onus of proving that Jennens was alive was upon the amised. If he/proved that Jennens was alive wh>en the marriaige ceremony referred to was I'Jione through, that would be a complete answer to the charge. A remand for eight days was granted.