DEAD ROMANCES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 41, 27 November 1937, Page 4

DEAD ROMANCES

CANNOT BE REVIVED Tests of the new “friendly" method for dealing with matrimonial troubles made at the Tower Bridge Court, London, were hardly successful. These tests were carried out under the summary procedure clauses of the Domestic Proceedings Act. Everything was done to make the troubled parties fall into a gracious and forgiving mood. The magistrate, Mr. Oulton, greyhaired and be-spectacled, had the benign and sympathetic manner of a family solicitor. Police wore lounge suits of clerical grey and did their best temporarily to forget their occupation. Warring husbands wives were quietly and pleasantly invited to unburden their hearts. “Come now! Just tell me all about it,” the magistrate said. But hard eyes did not grow soft, nor accusations less loud and bitter. However earnestly women were asked to recall their early affection, . and no matter how strong were the appeals to the generosity and ~ood nature of the husbands, the couples continued-to glare at each other. ...... Their feelings exploded in. outbursts which made Mr. Oulton shake his head in despair. Not one reconciliation was. effected-, and a record number of 1955. divorces was set down for the Michaelmas term, opening on Monday. ' • It is feared the judges will find the pressure overwhelming. . Cases include the divorce petitions of Amy Johnson, the airwoman, now Mrs. Mollison; Mrs. B. Farnol, wife of the novelist, Jeffrey Farnol; Lady Ursula Filmer Sankey, daughter of the. Duke of Westminster, and Lady Mitchell Cotts, formerly Princess Helene de la Tremoille.