SAD SEQUEL TO AN ILLEGAL MARRIAGE.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 125, 1 March 1879, Page 2

SAD SEQUEL TO AN ILLEGAL MARRIAGE.

A remarkable case, illustrating the folly of people contracting marriages in which there is no legal tie, came under the notice

of Messrs. H. H. Hornby and J. G. Livingston, in the Liverpool Police Court recently. As well known, many persons have married their deceased wives' sisters or their deceased husbands' brothers, feeling that they thus incur no moral ob'oquy, and having- sufficient confidence in each other to trust in the permanence of the tie of affection. After the case brought under magisterial notice, how- ; ever, it may lie expected that in future ! there will be more hesitancy in entering ! into those illegal alliances. John Mitchell, I who was said to be a master chair-maker, ! e.irrying on business in Bean-street, was summoned to show cause why he should m f contribute to the maitenance of two children, of which he was the putative father. Mr. I?. H. Barileft. -who appeared for the complainant, said (lie case was one of the most extraordinary character, and perhaps one of the most melancholy which iiad over <-omo b:fore the court. The complainn.nt was married to the defendants brother twenty-three years ago, but he died shortly afterwards, and she was then married to the defendant at St. Nicholas's Church. From that time, twenty-two years ago, up till nine weeks since they had lived together, and she had had nine children, live were now alive, their ages being respectively 16, 14. 13, and four years and fifteen months. About nine weeks ago defendant left the complainantand married another woman, and ts her marriage with him as her first husband's brother was illegal, she had no remedy except to ask the to order the defendant to contribute to the ~"

maintenance of the two children, the three eldest being so near the ages at which the defendant's liability for their support would cease, that he (Mr. Bartlett) did not think it necessary to make any application in. their cases. Another unfortunate feature of the matter was that the complainant was again near her confinement.

The defendantacknowledged the paternity of the children, and that he did lived with the complainant as her husband for about 22 years. Toe Bench ordered tlu defendant to pay 5x per week for each of the two childr.-m. and one .g.ihe.a as the solicitor's cosS.