Bigamy Charge.- Conisbro’ Man Arrested after Second “Wife’s” Funeral.

February 1920

Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Tuesday 03 February 1920

Bigamy Charge.

Conisbro’ Man Arrested after Second “Wife’s” Funeral.

William J. Meghown, labourer, Conisbro’, was brought up the Doncaster West Riding Court to-day. charged with bigamy.

Superintendent Minty stated that the prisoner was married September 7, 1904, at the Registry Office, Doncaster, to Margaret Ann Meghown, and lived together for 11 months at Conisbro’ and Denaby. On March 26th last year, he married Mary Needham, widow of Thomas Needham, who died last week. After he deserted his wife he had lived at Doncaster and Denaby.

Mr. Allen said that appeared for the relatives the dead woman, who asked to secure possession of goods in the house and papers and policies. Prisoner had handed over the key of the house and now said that the policies and other papers would found in the house.

Margaret Ann Meghown, said prisoner married her on 7th, 1904 and lived together for 11 months. Prisoner deserted her and she went into domestic service and then kept house for another man Wombwell and at Denaby about 13 years. In 1911 she met prisoner in New Conisbro’ and on Good Friday 1914, she met him in the fair ground. Since then he had been in the Army.

Nellie Lear. 17. Rose Avenue, Balby, sister of Mary Needham, said she witnessed the marriage of the prisoner to her sister March 26, 1919. She understood he was a single man. Her sister was a soldier’s widow and had two children. She died last Tuesday.

Sergeant Lewender stated that he arrested prisoner as he was returning from the funeral of Mary Needham and in reply the charge prisoner said. “Yes, I left my wife three months afterwards. When I joined the Army she tried to get separation allowance, but they would not let her have it.”

Prisoner said he wanted to make a statement but was advised to reserve his defence as the magistrates had no alternative but to commit him for trial.

He was committed for trial at the assizes and was admitted to bail.