Denaby Woman Deluded – A Charge of Bigamy.

Mexborough and Swinton Times May 1, 1915

Denaby Woman Deluded
A Charge of Bigamy

An interesting case in which a young Denaby woman, soon after her marriage, discovered her “husband” to be a married man was heard at the Doncaster West Riding police Court on Tuesday, before Mr. J. W. Hodgson (presiding), Mr E. Walker Jake Jackson and Mr. J. Brocklesby. G. C.

George Arther Trown, labourer, Clipstone. Nottinghamshire was charged with bigamously marrying at the Denaby Parish Church, on April 18. 1914 Amelia Lawson, a single woman, his wife, Charlotte being then alive

Amelia Lawson said she lived with her father at 46 Adwick Street. Denaby. She made the acquaintance of the prisoner in October, 1913 and at that time he represented himself as a single man. She walked out with him on several occasions.

In February the following year he proposed marriage and subsequently she decided to marry him. On Saturday. April 18 1914 they were married at the Denaby Main Parish Church. Her father William Lawson and Eliza Wilson were witnesses of the marriage.

She and the prisoner live together for a fortnight and then he left her. While they were living together she ascertained he was a married man and she taxed him with it. He denied it at the time.

In October of the same year she gave birth to a son who died a few hours after prisoner had left her. She found his wife living in Doncaster.

Evidence as to the marriage was given by Eliza Wilson, a single woman of 35. Maltby Street. Denaby Main who was one of the witnesses.

Charlotte Trown, prisoner’s wife, said she lived at 3, Alexandra Yard, Union Street, Doncaster. She was married to the prisoner at the Arksey Parish Church on the 3rd April, 1905. Her brother William Howarth, since deceased and her sister Serena were witnesses of the marriage. They lived together in different places up to early 1906, when he deserted her at Chesterfield.

At that time she had a baby six weeks old. She was left in a destitute condition.

Prisoner had visited her periodically, but they had not lived together regularly since. In June 1909. She obtained a maintenance order of 7/6 per week against the prisoner at that court. He had not complied with it.

In December 1913 prisoner visited her at Doncaster and as he was leaving said he would bring her some money the following week. She was still living in the same place. She had not seen him since.

Selena Leadbetter, a married woman of Arksey, who witnessed the marriage gave evidence.

PC Rushton, stationed at Denaby said he received prisoner in custody from the Nottinghamshire County police. Witness had examined the register of marriages at the Denaby parish council church and produce a certificate of marriage with Amelia Lawson and also with Charlotte Howarth. Prisoner was committed for trial.