STRANGE BIGAMY CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1918, Page 3

STRANGE BIGAMY CASE.

"A SMiLL MORAL OFFENCE."

MARRIED LIFE THAT OXI.Y LASTED TWO HOURS.

An extraordinary case of bigamy came before the Wellington Supreme Court on Tuesday (reports the Times), when George William Goocli and Ada Rosina Stokes were charged with bigamy at Timaru in March, 1009. Both jileaded guilty. Mr H. F. O'Leary. who appeared for accused, said the history of tlie case showed that in March, 1007, accused Stokes was married. Her husband parted with her two hours after the marriage ceremony. She was then thrown on to the world, anil did her best to maintain herself. She met Goocli, who sympathised with her in her misfortune. They lived together, and later, as Stokes was about to give birth to a child they "decided that for the child's sake they would go through the form of marriage. •Subsequent to this the woman's first husband took divorce proceedings, so that if the two accused had waited the marriage would have been quite in order. After their marriage Goocli and Stokes went to Pttane, and were living there very happily when their offence was discovered. Their case differed very much from the ordinary case of bigamy. They had gone to the Registrar-General to see if they could be legally married now, and as soon as they were informed that every legal impediment was removed the marriage would take place. The husband wished it understood that ho had persuaded Stokes to go through the form of marriage with him.

Mr Justice Edwards said that lie was not disposed to view the offence as a serious one. When a man deceived an innocent girl into marriage then bigamy was a serious offence. The present case was a very small moral offence. While he would treat accused leniently, he would have to impose some small penalty to show 'that the law could not be ignored. Accused would be fined £3 each. Mr O'Leary said he would undertake to see that the money was paid. Accused were discharged accordingly.