WELSH FUSILIER CHARGED WITH BIGAMY.
MAGISTERIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NORTHAMPTON.
A charge of bigamy was preferred at the Northampton borough Police Court Iast week, against a Welsh soldier who was formerly billeted at the town. He was Robert Roberts (25), a Sergeant in the 2-6th Royal Welsh Fusiiers. The charge against the defendant, who was arrested on warrant, was "that he on August 29th, 1915, at the parish of Northampton, feloniously did marry and take to wife one Florence Ada Crane, his former wife, to whom he was previously married on the 6th June, 1911, being then alive."Mr J. D. Douglas, who prosecuted on behalf of the police, stated that the paper in connection with the case had only just been placed in his hands. It would be necessary to ask, after formal evidence of the arrest of the man on warrant at Bedford the previous night had been given, for a remand, so that an opportunity might be given to the police to obtain the neœssary evidence in support of the case. Detective-Sergeant Blake stated that the matter was reported to him on Friday, September 3rd. He made enquiries, and afterwards communcated with the Pwllheli police.
On Friday morning a warrant was granted for the defendant's arrest and he received instructions to go to Bedford.
He saw defendant in the custody of the Bedford police, and said to him, "What is your name?"
Defendant replied, "Robert Roberts," and witness then said, ''I am a police officer and have a warrant for your arrest upon a charge of bigamy."
After the warrant had been read over to him, defendant replied, "I am guilty."
Witness conveyed him to Northampton, and he made the same reply when the warrant was read over to him. Mr J. D. Douglas asked that the case be remanded until Friday. The Magistrates Clerk. (Mr G. R. Bishop):
Have you anything to say with regard to the application?
Defendant : She knew I was married before she married me.
A remand until Friday was granted.
NORTH WALES CHRONICLE 17/09/1915
Local Fusilier Charged with Bigamy.
Committed for Trial.
At Northampton Borough Police Court on Friday, Sergeant Robert Roberts, aged twenty-five years, of North-street, Pwllheli, who is in the 2nd 6th Territorial Company of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was charged with having on August 29th, 1915, at Northampton, married a young woman named Florence Ada Crane, a shoe machinist at Northampton, his first wife to whom he was married on June 6th, 1911, being then alive and resident at Pwllheli.The accused was arrested at Bedford. In reply to the charge, he said: "I am guilty." He also declared that Miss Crane knew he was married but Miss Crane said when she asked him whether he was single, he replied: "As true as there is a God in Heaven I have no one but you. I have not got even a sweet-heart." He also told her he was a farmer and that he had two farms near Pwllheli, in one of which he resided. The young woman's mother also said that he had taken on all along that he was single.
Thomas Roberts, baker, Pwllheli, the defendant's brother, said the defendant's wife was in Pwllheli with one child. She was too ill to attend the Court. Defendant, who had nothing to say, was committed for trial at the Assizes.
He made no application for bail.
CAMBRIAN NEWS 24/09/1915
CARNARVONSHIRE SOLDIER CHARGED WITH BIGAMY.
MAGISTERIAL PROCEEDINGS AT NORTHAMPTON.
ACCUSED SAID TO HAVE BEEN MARRIED AT PWLLHELI.
The charge of bigamy against a Welsh soldier who was formerly billeted in the town was further investigated at the Northampton Borough Police Court, on Friday morning. Robert Roberts (25), a Sergeant in the 6th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was charged on warrant that he, on the 29th August, 1915, at the parish of Northampton, feloniously did marry and take to wife one Florence Ada Crane, his former wife, to whom he was previously married, to wit, on 6th June, 1911, being then alive.Mr J. D. Douglas, who prosecuted at the instruction of the police, said there were a number of postcards from the prisoner to the girl Crane of the usual picturesque and sentimental character, and also letters full of verbal expressions of attachment, love, and so forth. It was stated by Mr Douglas that the first woman to whom prisoner was married, was ill, and could not be present to give evidence. Katherine Ellen Williams stated that she was a witness when prisoner was married to Ann Jones, at the Registry Office, Pwllheli, on June 6th, 1911. and signed the register.
HOW THE ACQUAINTANCESHIP COMMENCED.
Florence Ada Crane, shoe machinist, stated that she was a single woman, and resided with her mother, Mrs Goodwin, at 96, Artizan-road, Northampton. She first made the acquaintance of prisoner in October of last year. He was in the l-6th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and was billeted at Palmerston-road. At that time she did not walk out with him, and only spoke to him.His regiment left at Christmas, but when it came back in May she met prisoner at the bottom of Artizan-road. Prisoner asked if she remembered him last year, and after a minute or two she did. They went to the first house of the New Theatre together, and upon arrangement they met on the Sunday afternoon. They walked out together continually until the regiment left in July. Prisoner told her he was a farmer, and that he had two farms. He said he let one and lived on the other. Prisoner wrote his farm address, two miles from Pwllheli, in a Testament which he gave to her.
Witness asked him if he were a single man. and he replied, "As true as God's in Heaven, I have got nobody only you. I have not even a young lady."
Towards the end of June prisoner asked her if she would marry him before they left Northampton. She told him she would upon condition he saw her mother and obtained her consent, which she understood was given. Prisoner gave her a ring, and it was agreed that they should get married as soon as he could get his leave in August.
TRANSLATING LETTERS INTO WELSH.
Prisoner told her he had written a letter to his father and sisters telling them he was going to be married.The reply stated, "This is from your father and sisters," and she wrote two letters to them addressing them to "Dear friends." Prisoner asked her to let him take them to the orderly room to get them written out in Welsh, which she did. She did not know if the letters were posted.
Subsequently prisoner took her a letter which he said was a reply to her's. It was signed, "From your sisters and father," and upon prisoner's request she gave it to him to answer.
The regiment left Northampton on July 6th, and during July and August she frequently received postcards and letters from prisoner. In one letter, upon the question of leave, prisoner concluded, "Here's my best love from the bottom of my heart. Your best loving sweetheart. Bob." She went to Bedford in August Bank Holiday week and met Roberts when they talked over arrangements for the wedding. When he came to Northampton from Bedford, prisoner asked her to get a special licence, giving her the particulars to enable her to do so. She obtained the Licence on August 26th.
Writing with regard to the difficulty of obtaining leave, Roberts said if he could not obtain the leave he had asked for he would be missing. "I cannot stand any more than to the end of this week. I am going mad about it." On August 28th witness went to Bedford and gave the licence to prisoner. He was about for half-an-hour, and when he came back he said the Captain had given him leave and a sovereign for a wedding present.
PRESENT FROM HIS CAPTAIN.
Prisoner said he had about £6 back pay to draw, but the Captain could not let him have it until Monday. He suggested that she should get her mother to lend her some money, which she did to the extent of £4. This she gave to the prisoner with 16s of her own money. On August 29th she went through the ceremony of marriage with prisoner at St. Michael's Church, Northampton. Amongst those at the church and her mother's house afterwards were the landlady and daughter with whom prisoner was billeted in Palmerston-road last year. Witness and the prisoner stayed at her mother's house that night.The following morning prisoner left at 4.45 to be at Bedford at 6.30. At 10.30 prisoner went back and said as soon at he got to Bedford he met his Company Sergeant Major, who told him his leave extended until Tuesday morning, and on Monday they again stayed at her mother's home.
Prisoner told her to write to his brother to tell him how the wedding went off and send him a cutting out of the paper. That was the last time she saw him until he was in custody. On the Thursday of last week she went to Bedford to make enquiries. It was then for the first time that she heard the prisoner had a wife living.
On the Saturday she had a letter purporting to be from prisoner's brother in answer to the one she had written and that confirmed what she had heard at Bedford.
MISSING FOR EVER AND EVER.
OOn the Sunday she received a letter, addressed to Mrs Flo Roberts, in prisoner's writing, which stated:-"My Dear, Loving Wife.—Just a line or two to let you know I am missing right enough for ever and ever. Flo, I shall never return back to see nobody again. Well, my duck, I love you from the bottom of my heart. I have gone too far with you, as you know yourself. Flo, what a pity that we were ever joined. I am very sorry that I have done such a thing with you, but never mind, dear, I shall suffer for this in another world. I hope I shall be there before you get this letter. Flo, it is not you that is in trouble....
" Mr Douglas said the letter went on to refer to prisoner's wife. Mrs Goodwin, mother of the girl, stated that prisoner all along held himself out to be a single man.
In reply to prisoner, witness said she did not know in June that he was a married man. Thomas Roberts, baker, of Pwllheli, a brother of the prisoner, stated that he saw the prisoner's wife, who had one child, the previous day. She was too ill to be present.
Detective Sergeant Blake stated that when he read the warrant to prisoner he said, "I am guilty." Prisoner said he had nothing to say, and was committed to the Assizes. He stated that he did not wish to apply for bail."
NORTH WALES CHRONICLE 24/09/1915
WELSH SOLDIER CHARGED WITH BIGAMY.
RRobert Roberts (25), a soldier, was charged at the Northamptonshire Assizes, on Wednesday, with bigamy by marrying Florence Ada Crane, at Northampton, on August 29th, 1915, his former wife, to whom he was married on June 6th, 1911. being then alive.PPrisoner pleaded guilty. Mr Campion who prosecuted for the Crown,said that prisoner represented himself as single and married the girl. He borrowed £ 4 from the girl's mother and 16s from the girl.
Mr Campion said he did not know whether his Lordship had read the budget of picture postcards prisoner had sent to the girl. His Lordship: I had no off-day yesterday, and I did not read them (laughter). I will look at them now.
An officer of prisoner's regiment said prisoner was a sergeant, and he bore a very good character. If the money prisoner had borrowed had not been refunded the officers would like to repay it.
Sentenced to six months' imprisonment.