Article in the Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 7 March 1912
Before Messrs Hooper and Stone, JPs, at the Fitzroy Court on Wednesday, Charles George Grandin, aged 29 years, was charged with bigamy.
Mary Ann Grandin stated: The defendant is my husband. We were married by the Rev J H Tuckfield at the Methodist Church, at Yarraville, on 19 January 1904. The witnesses to the marriage were my father and my husband's mother. There is one child by the marriage - a boy, who is seven years old. I was a music teacher at Yarraville at the time, and my husband was a fireman on the railways.
Ethel Blanche Grandin stated: I was married to the defendant by the Rev John Hoskings, at 101 Gore street, Fitzroy, on 16 July 1909. My husband gave his name as Herbert Edward Grandin, and said that he was a batchelor. The day after the marriage he altered the name of Herbert on my marriage certificate to Charles. He said he had done so because all who knew him called him 'Charley'. On the afternoon of the same day, he, at the request of my father, again crossed out the name Charles on the certificate and wrote the name Herbert. I was in a certain condition when we were married. I did not know that he had been previously married. At the South Melbourne Court last month I sued him for maintenance for our two children, and he was ordered to pay 7s 6d a week for each of the children.
Plainclothes-constable Crawford stated: I met the defendant in Geelong on 24 February and told him I had a warrant for his arrest for bigamy. He said that he thought his first wife was dead. I arrested him.
Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial. Bail was granted in one surety of £25, and his own bond for a like amount.
Article in the Argus, 27 March 1912
Charles George Grandin pleaded guilty of having committed bigamy on July 16, 1909.
Mr Bateman, who appeared for Grandin, said that Grandin had not heard from his wife for seven years, and thought she was dead when he went through the form of marriage with the second woman, whose two children would be left unprovided for if he was sent to prison.
The Chief Justice, in sentencing Grandin to imprisonment for 12 months, said that the offence was a serious one, deserving severe punishment.
