"AN OLD BIGAMIST."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3052, 24 November 1908, Page 5

"AN OLD BIGAMIST."

Bigamy at. Wellington on 12th February, 1908, was the nature of a charge to a comparatively small man, resembling a labourer in appearance, pleaded guilty at the Wellington Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Cooper yesterday. His name was John Wilson, alias Kiely, and it was alleged that he married Hanora Lynn during the lifetime of his wi :e. "I am very sorry for what I have done," pleaded prisoner, "I am without counsel and means, and I hope your Honor will be lenient with me."Mr Myers explained that prisoner had already been convicted of bigamy. He married on 28th December, 1887, a woman who was still alive and living in Canterbury. On 23rd April, 1895, he married a young woman in the South Island, and was convicted of bigamy in Invercargill and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Then he seemed to have married Miss Lynn. He received a sentence of six months 'or failing to maintain his first wife, and one month in Dunedin for failing to support another. His Honor to prisoner: Have you already been convicted of bigamy? Prisoner: Yes. Mr Myers: They are all living how. ; 1 His Honor said that prisoner seemed to have a liking for this kind of crime. The offence of bigamy was a very serious offence. Not only had he committed an offence against the law, but he had done ari irreparable injury to an innocent woman. He was an old bigamist, and under the circumstances H IS Honor would sentence him to a very substantial term of imprisonment. He would be sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with hard labour. That might be a warning to others who desired to take advantage ot innocent women. This offence, His Honor observed, was becoming prevalent in the Dominion at the present time. This was prisoner's second conviction and it showed that he was quite a hopeless character.