“RUNAWAY” MARRIAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1921, Page 5

“RUNAWAY” MARRIAGE.

BOY HUSBAND IN COURT.

“Dear Jack, I have got till Saturday to leave jou or leave home,” was the gist of a note in which a young Dargaville girl informed her sweetheart, a boy of seventeen, that she was on the horns of a dilemma. Her lover apparently realising that the course of true love never runs straight, solved the problem of parental objections t<> the match by obtaining the necessary marriage license, and the two young people were mode one in the presence of the Registrar. Then their troubles began in earnest, for investigation showed that the marriage had been performed by tricking the official as to the respective ages of the “parties.” The husband, according to lhe information given, was 22 years of age and the bride was over 21

Police enquiries followed, and as a result Jack, whose full name was John Albert Roberts, was charged with, and admitted, having made false statements for insertion in the marriage register. Mr. A. Moody, who appeared for the prisoner, said that possibly the dictates of love had suggested the taking out of the marriage license and the subsequent marriage. In consideration of the accused’s youth, he thought it would be somewhat harsh, in view of the leniency which the law was prepared to extend to people who committed indiscretions, to put the lad into gaol the effect of which must be degrading. If ever there was a case for a fine the present case was one. His Honor remarked that the prisoner had two convictions for theft against him—one in 1917 and one in 1918. Mr. V. R. Meredith, the Crown Prospeutor, said he took it that the object of the Marriage Act was to give some protection to parents so that their young daughters might not be led or trapped ino undesirable marriages. Tn the present case the youth had convictions for theft against him, a fact which was probably known to the girl’s parents. He was told not to come to the house, and that he was to leave the girl alone, ! but in spite of that, and knowing that her parents would not consent to an alliance, he made a false declaration, thus taking away the whole protection winch the law had given to the parents, and then he married the girl. If such offences were treated lightly one might expect many of them, and it might b” young girls were lured into marriage with undesirable persons if it was understood that no serious trouble would follow the making of a false declaration. Mr. Moody said that was the general aspect of the subject, but he asked the Court to consider the particular case. The lad did not lure the girl away. Mr. Justice Adams who presided remanded the prisoner until Fridaj