SOLDIERS TWO WIVES Extraordinary Ramsgate Story 24th April 1918 East Kent Times A story of a most unusual character was unfolded at Ramsgate Police Court before the County Justices on Tuesday, relative to an alleged bigamous marriage by a soldier. The accused was Corporal Arthur HASSALL, of the Royal Engineers, and he appeared on remand from last week charged with having married Alice Violet Beatrice JACOBS at Sandwich on November 12th last year, his with Edith, then being alive. HASSALL wore the Mons medal ribbon with two gold stripes. At the first hearing, evidence in regard to apprehension was given by Detective Constable Jenner of Sandwich. On Tuesday, the accused legal wife, who lives at Mossend Lanarkshire Scotland was called to give evidence by the police. She became acquainted with HASSALL she said, in February 1915 and corresponded with him until May 1916 when he returned from France. He visited her after that, every fortnight, but in consequence of what she discovered in June of the same year, relative to her condition he married her, the ceremony taking place on July 29th. She produced the certificate relative to the marriage. On November 25th 1916 she became the mother of twins which, however, lived only a short time. Questioned by Mr J H Robinson, who appeared for the accused, Mrs HASSALL said the birth of the children was premature. She denied that in one of her letter to her husband, while he had been stationed in Thanet, that she said she wished she had the 'other chap'. Neither did she tell him that she did not wish to see him again. It was not through her action that the law had been put into motion in regard to the second marriage. In reply to Inspector Ford, witness denied that at the birth of the children, accused disowned them. She affirmed that he was the father. The second 'wife' deposed that she made HASSALL's acquaintance in August last year., when he represented himself to be a single man. She kept company with him and in October intimated that she expected a certain event in June of this year. As a consequence they were married on November 20th (sic). Witness produced the certificate relevant to the wedding. In reply to Mr Robinson, witness made the surprising statement that when she told accused of the pending event in October, he told her he was already married but that she, however, decided to marry him and so avert the disgrace which was likely to ensue. She added that she did not know whether it would be a legal marriage or not. HASSALL had been very good to her and she desired to 'stick' to him whatever happened. Answering Inspector Ford, witness said she did not tell Detective Constable Jenner at the time he took her statement that she knew accused was married. She believed he asked her at the time but she made no answer. That day was the first time she had told anybody that HASSALL told her he was married before his marriage with her. Proof of the marriage was given by C.S.M. Sulley, R.E. who stated that he was present at the ceremony. On the advice of his solicitor, prisoner reserved his defence and he was committed to take his trial at the next assizes. His application to the magistrate's to certify for legal aid under the poor prisoners regulations, was not agreed to.   Births Sep 1898   JACOBS  Alice Violet B    Thanet  2a 949