The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1833-10-29 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

BIGAMY.—George Broadinan, a respectable looking young man, was indicted for having, on the 16th day of June last, feloniously and unlawfully married Emilia Green, his former wife, Anne Foley Derbyshire, being then alive. This was the first case of bigamy tried in this county, except at the assizes, and consequently excited a considerabte degree of interest. Mr. Hall stated the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Venahles appeared for the defence.  James Oliver, an acquaintance of the prisoner's, stated that he had known him about six years ; and that in February, 1829, he was present at the marriage of the prisoner to Anne Foley Derbyshire—the ceremony was performed at St. Phillip's church. His first wife is still living, and witness saw her about a fortnight ago. Cross-examined by Mr. Venables— Knew the name of the woman to be Anne Foley Derbyshire ; she was between 18 and 19 years of age when married; does not know how long'St. Phillip's church has been built, or whether it is usual to solemnize marriages there. Emma Green, the second wife, who appeared deeply affected,. and with some difficulty was supported to give evidence, deposed that she had been married to the prisoner about ten months, at the Old Church, in Liverpool. About three weeks before the prisoner was taken up'witness accused him of being a widower,. which he denied: she then expressed to him her fears that he had a wife living, which he aticngthacknowiedeed,, and said that if she in consequence refused tolive with him, he would destroy himself. 'Witness did not leave him, and the prisoner afterwards attempted to commit suicide by hanging hiMsell, but was cut down in time to save his life. She had no fortune, and the prisoner during the time he had lived with her had behaved towards her with the greatest kindness. She had known him 12 months before marriage, and never during that time  had heard of another wife. • John Hartley, an officer of police, produced examined copies of .the registers of both .marriages at St. Phillip's and St. Nicholas's, and had compared them with the entry in the clerk's books, and found them to correspond, Mr. Venables in behalf of the prisoner, argued that there was no evidence to show that marriages could be legally solemnized in St. Phillip's church, for although it was a place of worship consecrated by the bishop, being no parish church, it was necessary to solemnize a marriage to have a special license from the lord bishop of Canterbury. St. Phillip's church was a modern building; there might be an Act of Parliament for it, but such had not been given in evidence.  Mr. Hall cited a clause from the Marriage Act of 6th Ge 0.4., where a provision was made to remedy the evil, tendering marriages under such circumstances as valid in law as though solemnized in any parish church in England or Wales. Mr. Forster, the town derk, intimated that he had the Act of Par liament for St. Philip's church, and Mr. Venables gave up the point. The prisoner declined saying anything in his defence. The Recorder, in summing up, said that in cases of bigamy where there's as a witness present at the marriage, it was quite unnecessary to produce the certificates in evidence for proof. He alluded to the evidence of the young woman Green, who had stated that the prisoner had behaved well to her, and remarked that he entertained a different opinion, for he thought that nothing could he inure cruel to a young woman than to gain her affections and marry her, having a wife living; for independent of her misery, it' there were children by the connection, they were all illegitimate. The jury found the prisoner Guilty? and the mother of the first wife came forward and gave the prisoner an excellent character; she said that he had an aged father to support, and had always allowed a suitable maintenance t 8 his first wife. Emma Green also begged the mercy of the court on the prisoner's behalf. The recorder ordered him to be taken down and again brought up on Monday to receive sentence. .