THE DENNISTOUN CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10350, 13 March 1925, Page 6

THE DENNISTOUN CASE

DIVORCE VALIDITY ARGUED. CONTENTIONS BY THE DEFENCE. Per PieSS A 'Sedation —Copyright.) LONDON, March 11. Dir Justice McCardie, immediately the hearing of the Dennistoun case was resumed, sought to clear up the question of defendant’s French domicile.

He asked Sir E. Marshall-Hall: Do you say the dissolution of the marriage was invalid? If so, you see the consequences regarding the marriage between Dennistoun and Lady Carnarvon ?

Counsel: It is for your Lordship to decide, i submit that Dennistoun’s acceptance of French domicile was collusive in order to enable his wife to get a divorce.

1 lie nudge: That raises the grave: issue whetner Denn.stouu is Lady Car narvon’s husband.

Counsel: Not as a direct issue, but the decision may carry inferential consequences. The Judge: You must say wlnit you think in respect to the validity of the divorce.

Counsel: For the purpose of this case I admit the validity of Dennistoun’s divorce.

The Judge, with surprise: For the purpose of this case! Having regard to the family interests involved, and •also to Mrs Denhistoun’s desire to remarry, it is important that we should know points which may arise at the termination of this case. You think it over.

Mr N. Beckett-, K.C., second counsel for the defence, then addressed the Court.

The jury, he said, would naturally ask why the case was defended, when the payment by Lady Carnarvon, of probably less than the ease was costing would have saved the daily anguish of seeing columns in the newspapers. The answer was that no case or legal claim existed. Colonel Dennistoun denied making any promise or entering into any agreement, whereas Mrs Dennistoun had admitted misconduct with Sir John Cowans and Bolin. Could they imagine Dennistoun agreeing to her marrying Bolin and promising to support her? Plaintiff’s dramatic declaration that there was a. cold, calculating bargain by which she paid the price of her husband’s preferment I would be- utterly denied. It was a precious poor preferment to be made a‘ major in the Labour Corps. Hers was an incredible version. It was merely a case of an impetuous, pleasure-loving wife beyond the control of her husband, who was lamentably weak to let the matter go on. If there were an agreement it was implied thereafter that she must live a chaste life, which she had not done. The case was adjourned.