Sophie Agnes (aged 19), child of Carl Beck, married Carl Paul Gustav Steicke (aged 26) on 8 October 1900, at the residence of the bride's parents in Lobethal, district of Nairne, South Australia.[4][5]
Nearly 15 years later, "Agnes Ethel Cora Beck", child of Charles Victor Beck, married Edmund Benard Tamke on 20 July 1915 in Wayville, South Australia.[6]
It was alleged soon afterwards that Agnes was in fact Sophie and that she was still married to Carl Paul Gustav Steicke as he was still alive. According to the police reports and newspaper court reporting, Sophie was charged and pleaded guilty. She was convicted of the charge but due to the extenuating factors in her favour, was only required to serve half an hour in prison. The extenuating factors were that Sophie and Carl had only lived together for eighteen months to two years and that she left him with his consent. Sophie had supported and looked after their child, Rosina Laura, for the following 13 years and when she met Edmund Benard Tamke, she thought she was free to marry him.[7][8][9][10]
Her marriage to Edmund Benard Tamke must have been anulled as she carried the last name of Steike when she died. She must also have continued to use the name Agnes Sophie, vs. Sophie Agnes her birth name. Sadly, Agnes Sophie, died (age 34) on 24 February 1916 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia only weeks after she served her half an hour in prison. She had resided at Unley and died in an institution i.e. hospital, nursing facility or religious community. Her husband was recorded as Carl Gustav Steike.[11]
Sources
↑ "Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922," database, (Ancestry Record 1778 #5514577 : subscription required, accessed 1 September 2023), Mother Anna Rosina Schuetze, Father Charles Beck, Birth Date 30 Sep 1881, Birth Place Lobethal, Registration Place Nairne, South Australia, Australia, Name Sophia Agnes Beck; citing South Australian Births, Index of Registrations 1842 to 1906, Volume Number 269, Page number 402.
↑ "South Australia Births 1842-1928," database, (FindMyPast Transcription : subscription required, accessed 1 September 2023), Father's last name Beck, Country Australia, Mother's last name Schuetze, Place Lobethal, State South Australia, Father's first name(s) Charles, Mother's first name(s) Anna Rosina, Birth date 30 Sep 1881, District Nairne, Last name Beck, Gender Female, Registration number 269/402, First name(s) Sophia Agnes; citing Registration Number 269/402. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
↑ "Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950," database, (Ancestry Record 1780 #5234425 : subscription required, accessed 1 September 2023), Father Carl Beck, Marriage Place Lobethal, South Australia, Spouse Carl Gustav Steike, Marriage Date 8 Oct 1900, Registration Place Nairne, South Australia, Australia, Spouse Father August Steike, Name Sophie Agnes Beck; citing South Australia-Marriages 1842-1916, Volume Number 205, Page number 99.
↑ "South Australia Marriages 1842-1937," database, (FindMyPast Transcription : subscription required, accessed 1 September 2023), Spouse's birth year 1874, Marital status Single/spinster, Last name Beck, First name(s) Sophie Agnes, Spouse's last name Steike, Spouse's first name(s) Carl Gustav, Registration number 205/99, Marriage date 08 Oct 1900, Father's first name(s) Carl, Father's last name Beck, State South Australia, District Nairne, Birth year 1881, Spouse's age 26, Country Australia, Spouse's father's last name Steike, Spouse's father's first name(s) August, Age 19, Spouse's marital status Single/Spinster, Place Res of Brides Parents Lobethal; citing Registration Number 205/99. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
↑ "Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950," database, (Ancestry Record 1780 #5234357 : subscription required, accessed 1 September 2023), Father Charles Victor Beck, Marriage Place Wayville, South Australia, Spouse Edmund Benard Tamke, Marriage Date 20 Jul 1915, Registration Place Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Spouse Father Godfrey Tamke, Name Agnes Ethel Cora Beck; citing South Australia-Marriages 1842-1916, Volume Number 264, Page number 171. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
↑ "South Australia, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1862-1947," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) (Ancestry Record 60970 #404628 : subscription required, accessed 1 September 2023), Place South Australia, Australia, Name Sophie Agnes Steicke, Year 1915, Reference Description AU5103-1915 SA Police Gazette 1915.
↑ Alleged Bigamy The Register, Adelaide Thursday Nov 1915, page 9 ALLEGED BIGAMY." The Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1923) 3 November 1915: 1 (THE JOURNAL SPORTING EDITION). Web. 1 Sep 2023 (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208030351).
↑ "South Australia Deaths 1842-1972," database, (FindMyPast Transcription : subscription required, accessed 1 September 2023), Place Adelaide, Relative's last name Steike, Last name Steike, First name(s) Agnes Sophie, Age at death 34y, Registration number 399/327, Death date 24 Feb 1916, Gender Female, State South Australia, District Adelaide, Birth year 1882, Country Australia, Relative Husband, Notes Person died in an institution i.e. hospital, nursing facility or religious community, Relative's first name(s) Carl Gustav, Status Married, Residence Unley; citing Registration Number 399/327.
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