STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bios., Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with them. MAGISTRATE’S COURT. AN UNUSUAL CASE. Jan. Id. At the Stratford Magistrate's Court before Messrs. C. D. Sole, J.P., and G. E. Wilson, J.P., William Zimmerman was charged with making a false declaration for the purpose of procuring a marriage certificate at Hawera. It was alleged that Zimmerman had declared the girl was over 21 years of age, and also that they had resided in Hawera for three full days, both statements being false. Sergeant J. Dale conducted the case for the police. Mr. S. Spence represented accused, who pleaded guilty. Sergeant Dale said that it might be claimed that accused had acted only properly in marrying the girl, but had that been so proceedings would never have been taken. It would be necessary to give some details to show that such was not the case. Zimmerman and the girl, who was a native of Blenheim, came from Blenheim about twelve months ago and went to live with accused’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Zimmerman. Mrs. Zimmerman’s husband died during the epidemic and she had to Work hard to support four children and accused and the girl. Zimmerman did nothing to help support the household. After a child was born to accused Mrs. Zimmerman told the couple that they would have to go elsewhere to live, and the police heard that accused and the girl were sleeping in the park. Although the police searched the park one night without result, it was a very dark night and the sergeant believed that the report was true. The girl had no clothes and no money, and had applied for help to the captain of the Salvation Army, who had reported the matter to the police. The witness decided that the only thing to do was to send the child to an industrial school and have an order made against Zimmerman for its support, and the case had been set down for hearing on December 7. On December 5. he said, accused persuaded the girl to walk to Hawera, and they went to live with accused’s sister, Mrs. Smith. On the following day accused obtained a marriage certificate from the registrar of marriages. Before leaving Stratford the girl Dad communicated with her father asking for his consent to the marriage, and this came to hand, but not until December IG, whereas the marriage took place on December G. After the marriage the couple returned to Stratford and Zimmerman took his wife to an empty house, but made no provision for a home and no endeavor to support his wife. He had certainly given her no money, and she had applied to the police for charitable aid. Accused was entitled to hardly any sympathy at all because of the way in which he had treated his wife. Had he acted property , after his marriage nobody would have questioned the marriage, but owing to hit? neglect the girl had been left destitute and had given the police considerable trouble.

Several witnesses gave evidence supporting the sergeant’s statement, and accused was remanded to Wellington for sentence.

PERSONAL.

The death occurred at the Stratford Hospital this morning of Mr. C. R. Brown, of Pembroke Road, at the age of 46 years. Mr. J. S. Lyons returned to Stratford on Saturday after a holiday in the South Island.

Business men of Stratford and district are reminded that their stationery requirements for 1922 can be filled satisfactorily at Wilson Bros., the Commercial Stationers and Printers, Stratford. Account books, duplicate books, letter files and typewriter supplies fully stocked; paper and envelopes a speciality.