Whereas John W. BENNETT hath this day, upon the information of Mary Jane BENNETT been charged before me, B. Lester Peters, police magistrate of the city and county of St. John, that the said John W. Bennett on a day between the 15th of April in the year of our Lord 1886 and the 31st day of May last past, feloniously and unlawfully did marry and take to wife one Mary Ann MAHONEY while one Mary Jane Bennett, his lawful wife, was still alive. The story of the complainant, maiden name Mary Jane JONES as related to a representative of the Globe is briefly this: About seven years ago she was united in marriage with the prisoner by Rev. G.A. Hartley of Carleton and they lived together for nearly three years. Bennett deserted his wife and took up his abode in Fredericton (York Co.). He was there only a few months when he began paying attention to a young woman named Elizabeth MEAD to whom he made offers of marriage, which proposals were finally accepted and within a year from the time of his desertion from his first wife, Bennett was the husband of another woman. He was arrested, tried and convicted for Bigamy and was sentenced to Dorchester Penitentiary for a term of three years... The prisoner stated to the reported: My real name is John W. GRIFFITHS. My mother had been married twice, first to a man named Griffiths and afterwards to a man named BENNETT. I came to this city originally from Halifax. (see original)