A seaman, named Joeseph George Scarrott, 35, surrendered to bail on a charge, to which he pleaded guilty, of bigamy, by having on September 15 1907, at Southampton, married Agnes Laura Payne, whilst his former wife, Annie Elizabeth Scarrott, whom he married on August 12th, 1898, was still alive.

Mr. Temple Cooke prosecuting, stated that the first marriage was an unhappy one, but the second one was quite happy. The affair would probably not have been discovered had accused, as the result of depression, made a confession to his second wife. -- Payne stated that she lived happily with the prisoner until last year, and she afterwards left because she did not like another woman being in it. The prisoner, who had an excellent character, stated he often tried to reclaim his first wife, but failed. He felt the need of a home, and made the acquaintence of the second woman, whom he married, and with whom he had no fault to find during the six years they had lived together. She had been a good wife, and he could not understand her turning round after his confession to her nine months ago. -- His lordship did not regard the case as a bad one, but said the law must be respected. The sentence passed was one month's hard labour.