Subiaco Potter’s Misdeeds (1930) ‘Wayward Women From Subiaco’. Part Two.
This is an interesting story about how a woman from Subiaco became the victim of a bigamist in the 1920’s.
The story is from Trove the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Truth 13 July 1930.
A SUBIACO POTTER'S MISDEEDS
He Deserted His Wife and Married Another Woman
NOW DIVORCED AND WAITING TRIAL MRS. ETHEL MAY POTTER, A GENERAL BY CALLING, RESIDING AT Henry Street Subiaco, first proceeded against her husband, Arthur Potter, for divorce on the grounds of desertion. But then she discovered that Potter had committed the fatal mistake of marrying a second time, or rather, of going through the form of marriage a second time. It was her inquiries in connection with her divorce which caused him to be detected in this crime, and on May 6, at Manjimup, he pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence to the Bunbury sessions, He lies awaiting that sentence now.
So at least one homewrecker will get something of his deserts. It is saddening, however, to reflect that this position is brought about, not by any efficiency of the law, but by reason of the fact that Potter was sufficiently ill advised as to go through the form of marriage with the second woman. That detail omitted and he would have been as free of the law as the birds of the air.
Mr. Roderiquez appeared before Mr. Justice Dwyer for Mrs. Potter. The marriage took place on Novembers, 1918, at Subiaco Potter was a cook, but cooked but seldom. Three children were born of the marriage, during the years that they lived in various parts ot Perth. Conditions were miserable right from the commencement owins to Potter's disinclination for work. He used to work in fits and starts, but they were so brief that Mrs. Potter's parents had to keep her and the children until February 1924, when her father died.
In August 1924, Potter was arrested and was given three months gaol. Mr. Roderiquez What was that for? - For thieving. While Potter was in prison Mrs.Potter went to her mother at Baandee, and when he came out he wrote to her there. He wanted her to return to live with him and she did so in November that year.
Three weeks she stayed with him, or rather, he stayed with her. And then he asked her for money to go to Perth. He said that he was going after a job. Off he went. She next saw him by appointment. That was two years later. He saw her brother and told him to tell her he wanted to see her.
She met him on the corner of William and Murray Street about November 5 1926 and they arranged that if he would make a home for her she would return to live with him. He was to come to her the following night at her home. But he did not keep the appointment and the next time she saw him was in May last. He was then in a very miserable situation.
He was playing the star part in a bigamy drama at Manjimup Courthouse, and was adjudged guilty of the crime and was remanded for sentence to the next sessions at Bunbury. It was in June 1928, that she had first heard of his bigamous project. She had been making enquiries through the C.I.B. as to his whereabouts and the inquiries made by that C.I.B. discovered the fact that he was living under the name of Poter, and had gone through the form of marriage with an unlucky woman by the name of Olive Mary Lintott at Manjimup.
Mrs Potter sat in the court and listened to a statement read admitting to the crime and to his identity and she heard Poter admit that the statement was his. In the court too he admitted that he had deserted his first wife. He again admitted these things Mr. Pullerton, a law clerk served the papers on him in the Perth Lock-up. His Honor being satisfied, granted Mrs. Potter her decree.
