'DEAD' HUSBAND MET IN STREET

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3366, 4 November 1911, Page 10

'DEAD' HUSBAND MET IN STREET

CONFRONTATION OF “ WIDOW ” WHO HAD WORN HER WEEDS.'

CURIOUS BIGAMY STORY

Having mourned her husband as dead a woman named vVood met him again at Liverpool thirteen years later. The tale of this dramatic encounter was told at West Ham on a recent Wednesday during the hearing of a case in which James Boyd, fifty, a seaman, of •Olive Road, Plaistow, was charged on remand with bigamy. Boyd, it was shown, married liis wife in Edinburgh in 18S4, and lived with her for some time. In 1883 a Miss Wood was going to America, and on board ship made the acquaintance of Boyd, who described himself as a bachelor.- On arrival at New York they went through a marriage ceremony at Trinity Church, Hudson Street. In February, 1894, a child was born, and five months later Miss Wood expressed a desire to return to England. It was arranged that Boyd should follow, but lie did 1 not do so. Miss Wood resided at Blackburn, and afterwards received two letters from Boyd. In October, 1896, she received a communication from a relative, and did not trouble any more about Boyd. About thirteen years later. she received a letter stating that her husband, as she regarded him, was dead, and slip went into mourning. In February last year she was in Liverpool, and there met Boyd. He said to her, “I am sorry for’ what I done. I was married before I married you.” _ The prosecuting counsel said that since the last hearing he had received a letter from counsel for the defence asking him to produce certain naturalisation papers, which would show that Boyd was a subject of the United) States of America. In those circumstances he was afraid that there was no jurisdiction in England. The Magistrate: It will have to i e proved that he is a naturalised American.

Counsel: For the prosecution I am prepared to admit it. *My client is i liable to produce the papers, but she knows that he is naturalised, and I don’t feel that any possible object can be obtained by proceeding further with tlie charge, which must inevitably result, admitting this fact with an acquittal on a point of law.” The Magistrate: His defence that he is an American subject will have to- be proved. I must see the naturalisation papers, and see that they are in order. In order that the naturalisation papers might be produced the hearing was further adjourned.