The few years George and Annie shared together sadly was not to last and she died 29 Feb 1908 at Wanganui Hospital and was bur: at Aramoho Cem. George registered her death under her assumed name i.e. Annie Cowan Aitken aged 32 years.    

Repercussions swiftly followed after George's public declaration of his regard for Annie - below, the court proceedings at which husband Arthur was required to attend.

5 May 1908:Wanganui Herald:  Mr E. L. Stanford, S.M., was occupied for some time this morning in hearing a case in which a man named Aitken was charged, under section 44 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1875, with having caused some false particulars to be supplied to the Registrar in reference to the death of a Mrs Westbury. Evidence was given by Mr Westbury and the Deputy-Registrar (Mr C. E. Hylton) after which the accused made a statement frankly admitting his guilt, and he was remanded for sentence to the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Wanganui.

26 May 1908:Wanganui Herald: SENTENCE: Geo. Aitken, pleaded guilty in the lower court to making a false entry in the declaration of the death of Mrs Westbury, who had lived with him for several years as his wife. Mr Treadwell appeared on his behalf, and after pointing out the mitigating circumstances of the case, asked his Honor to deal leniently with his client. His Honor said the prisoner had committed a very foolish act, but the circumstance justified his Honor in not imposing any sentence of imprisonment. First - because the accused had undertaken the support of the woman and her children during a period in which they were practically abandoned by husband and father, and despite the accused living improperly with the woman, he had supported her properly and respectably, while the father did not care what became of his wife and children by neither making inquiry nor troubling himself about them. The second mitigating feature was that the woman died, and on her deathbed, requested Aitken to keep her identity from the public, and this had no doubt influenced the accused for the sake of the mother and children. Thirdly, the prisoner had been of good character, and did not evidently appreciate the fact that he was committing a serious breach of the law. In certain cases of false declaration under the marriage, births and deaths regulations, there might be an element of criminality, which would prevent, entirely, a judge from dealing leniently with the matter, but in the present case, that was absent. The public however should not think such an act could be committed with impunity, there being heavy penalties provided. He inflicted a fine of L2, with 2 guineas costs. Westbury's expenses, in coming up from the South Island to give evidence, were not allowed, his Honor stating that the man was not entitled to sympathy in that matter. Mr Treadwell undertook to pay the amount, and prisoner Aitken was discharged. He died May 1951, Wanganui. Grave Aromoho Cem Plot 34 RSA Lawn B

Yrs 1920 to 1930:: WEstern Star, Wallace County: Officer receiving fee registration of dogs for the County of Wallace., Arthur Westbury of Orepuke for Orepuke and Waiau Ridings.

Dec 1912: Waverley Notes: Mr G. Aitken, who owns a herd of 130 cows and supplies to the Stanley Park Dairy Co. did well last month, his cheque amounting to L210. George never remarried. He took an interest in the community and was a steward in 1919 for the Waverley-Waitotara racing club and the Dog Trial club. and he d: 1851 aged 75 yrs He was crem. Wanganui Aramoho Cem.

Following Annie's death, Arthur went to Wanganui and returned with his children to Orepuke. Difficult financial times followed - Arthur Westbury was declared bankrupt.

27 Nov 1907: Meeting creditors: Sawmill hand Te Tumutu. A meeting of creditors in the estate ot Arthur Westbury, sawmill hand, of Te Tumutu, was to have been held yesterday in the office of Mr C. B, Rout, Deputy Oflicial Assignee. Only one creditor was present and the meeting therefore lapsed. Bankrupt was represented by Mr W. V.Hall, explained that the built of the debt had been contracted by his wife unknown to himself during his enforced periods ot absence from home. He was now in steady employment and given- health and a reasonable amount of good fortune, he willingly undertook to pay off as large a percentage of the debt as he was able. The principal unsecured creditors were Thom. Steel (Otautau) L2O, E. Matheson (Otautau) Ll3, Mrs Gardiner (Otautau) L8 10s 9d, E. Kidd (Winton) L7 10s; A Tull L6 18s 9d, Officer (Otautau) L6 10s, J. H. Geddes L5 6s, F. W. Gresham L5 5s, and sundry smaller creditors L29 15 11d. (Assets) nil.