The Western Morning News 26 Mar 1935 Charged with Bigamy John Barrett MERRY Mabel Louisa BOOBYER Meare Green Stoke St Gregory Mrs Alice Florence MERRY Bridgwater

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The Western Morning News and Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette. Tuesday 26 Mar 1935

Page 4 Column 7


EVIDENCE BY GIRL-WIFE

Young Man Charged With Bigamy

SENT FOR TRAIL BY TAUNTON BENCH

A 20-YEARS-OLD Bridgwater wife, who has two children, gave evidence at Taunton Police Court yesterday, when her husband was charged with bigamy.

Accused was John Barrett MERRY, 25, labourer, a native of West Huntspill, near Bridgwater. He was charged with bigamously marrying Mabel Louisa BOOBYER, domestic servant, of Meare-green, Stoke St Gregory, on December 26, 1934.

Mrs. Alice Florence MERRY, of 3-Hillyers-buildings, Bridgwater, said she was married to accused at Bridgwater Register Office on June 18, 1932. Since just before Christmas, 1934, he had lived apart from her, and had allowed her only two small sums, 7s 9d. and 12s 6d. At present she was receiving relief from the Public Assistance Committee.

GIRL'S ALLEGATIONS.

Mabel Louisa BOOBYER said she was working at Trull, when she first met MERRY in January, 1934. He assured her he was unmarried.

On December 26 she was “married” as she thought to him at Stoke St. Gregory church. MERRY stayed with her at her parents' home for a few days, and then they moved into Taunton, where they lived in rooms for six weeks. During that time she received from him 17s, in one week and £1 another week.

They could not pay the rent, and she went home. MERRY did not accompany her, but he had visited her several times since then. She was now expecting to become a mother.

ACCUSED'S EVIDENCE.

MERRY, in a statement to the Bench, said he had endeavoured to take proceedings for divorce against his wife with “poor persons' assistance,” for which he had applied. The solicitors wanted his marriage certificate, which he could not get, as his mother-in-law had it, and he “had not bothered about the matter since.”

MERRY was committed for trial to the next Assize. He applied for legal aid, and the Mayor (Mr. W. BRAKE) said the Bench did not feel justified in granting a certificate, but he could make application at the Assize.

At the same court MERRY was subsequently sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment on each of three charges of bicycle theft at Taunton, the sentences to run concurrently.


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<NOTES: Mabel Louisa BOOBYER daughter of Edmund BOOBYER and Frances Mary Gertrude POCOCK, married John Barnett or Ernest MERRY
John Barnett or Ernest MERRY, married Alice Florence HILL and Mabel Louisa BOOBYER
Alice Florence HILL married John Barnett or Ernest MERRY and Philip William Edwin Ernest TURNER>