CHARGE OF BIGAMY DISMISSED

The Times,
Wednesday, Feb 21, 1906;
pg. 3; Issue 37949; col F

The Police Courts

At West London, GEORGE WRIGHT, aged 79, a herbalist, of All Saints'-road, North Kensington, was charged on remand with bigamy.
Mr. Ellis defended.
The allegation against the accused was that on January 24, 1906, he went through an illegal form of marriage with a Miss Panting at St. Stephen's Church, Grove-road, Clapham, when his lawful wife - a woman named Norman, whom he married in 1892 at Hampstead Registry Office - was alive.

As a matter of fact investigation showed that his marriage with Norman was invalid, inasmuch as his first wife, whom he married as far back as 1854, and from whom he seperated in 1872, was alive in 1897.

This wife actually died in 1900, so the accused's marriage with Miss Panting was quite legal. The present prosucution was brought at the instance of Norman. Mr. Ellis said that, as she knew her marriage with Wright was invalid, she had grossly misled the police into arresting the old man.

The accused was discharged.

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