Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-02-24
SIX MONTHS IS
PENALTY LAID
ONpESMOND
Confessed BtgamiSt Is Given
Light Sentence Because of III
Health and Sacrifice for Girl

Tired OF his legal wife because she
vas insane and without charm and
| because he was eager to take away
| from the demoraliZing influences
which she was under the young Por-
tuguese girl whom he illegally mar
ried - these are the reasons given
by William DESMOND for having COM
mitted the crime OF bigamy. in pun
ishment for which he will spend the
next six months n Oahu prison. pay
fine Of $500 and the costs of the
case.
The reasons for D'Esmond's act
were set forth in a statement made
by L. S. District Attorney Jeff Nc
earn, and in a statement by Judge
Sanford B. Dole, before sentence was
pronounced in federal court today.
During the district attorneys address,
Desmond, nervous and shaky, stood
near his attorney and, on one occa-
sion, he tottered and would have fall
len to the floor had he not been sup
ported by Marshal Smiddy. He ap-
parently was under a severe nervous
strain. yet his voice was steady when
he told the court he had nothing to
say as to why sentence should not be
pronounced upon him.
The facts in the Desmond case, as
explained by Mr. McCarn, are woven
into a strange tale of matrimonial diff
ficulties. extending over a period of
several years, and ending finally in
the husband breaking away, coming to
Hawaii and marrying illegally young
Portuguese girl.
Tries to Save Girl.
Desmond became attached to the
girl, it was told in court, and it was
his desire in marrying her to take
her away from the demoralizing in
fluences which she was living under
His (D'Esmond's) storp appeals
to any man who has heard it." said the
district attorney. This is case
where the defendant married another
woman because he was tired of his
wife; because he had lost interest in
her, because, she was not attractive;
because she was worn out, penniless
and friendliness and had no charm.
This is case where the defend
ant injured himself, his wife, the CON-
munity and the girl whom he pretend
ed to marry. feel that he should be
severely dealt with. Letters written
to the woman show that he deceived
her for years. Then he came here
and said she was insane. But the let
tiers he wrote were not the letters
man writes to an insane woman.
+ 81 feel sorry for the defendant in
this trouble, but he has brought it on
himself. He is a man of unusual in
telligenee, but he imposed upon these
two women"
In reply to Mr.. McCarn's argument,
Attorney A. D. Larnach. counsel for
Desmond, had but little to say. In
brief address he said that the defend
ant was a man Of good character and
high intelligence and that his work
as a civil engineer with the army
quartermaster' corps had been salts
factory. He pointed out that DIES
mond's physical condition is delicate
would be a living hell'' for him.
In an address from the bench Judge
Dole said that D'Esmond's married
life was a disappointment on account
of the mental illness of his wife. But
he had taken care of her almost up
to the last" he added.
DESMOND Made Sacrifice.
Judge Dole went on to say that, &C
cording to Diamonds story, the de-
PENDANT had married the young Portu-
guese girl in order 70 save her. He
concluded with a statement that, in
his opinion. DIES mond had made a
sacrifice for the girl -.
1t was stated in. court that shortly
after Desmond was brought to Homo