BREAKING THE BOND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 268, 10 November 1913, Page 5

BREAKING THE BOND.

ILL-ASSORTED COUPLES ASKING FOR DIVORCE. The civil sittings of the Supreme Court were opened this morning, before his I Honor .'dr. Justice Cooper, and several divorce cases were hoard. HUSBAND IN GAOL. Amy Adelaide Garner sought, a dissolution of her marriage with William Frederick Garner, on the ground that respondent was last year convicted of a charge of rape. Mr. Woodward appeared for the petitioner. The respondent, who was in court, did not deny the conviction, but said he wanted the case adjourned as he would like to be heard on the question of the custody of the children. The children are at present in a home. His Honor _aid he would not make any order concerning the children in the meantime. Mr. R. G. Thomas. Registrar of the Supreme Court, produced the record of the conviction of Win. Robert Garner in June, 1912, the sentence being ten years' imprisonment. Respondent admitted his identity with Win. Robt. Garner, but denied that the conviction was for rape. The matter was now before the Minister of Justice. Ili- Honor said he could only go on therecords. The petitioner, a young woman, said the marriage had taken place in 190 S. and there were two children. His Honor made an order for a decree nisi, the children to remain in the Home until petitioner moved, three months hence, to have the decree made absolute, when the matter of their custody would be considered. DESERTION. In the ease Frances Russell Jowitt, petitioner, and Edmund Jowitt. respondent, now of Makaran. near Helensville, settler, the ground of the application for a divorce was desertion. Mr. Woodward appeared for petitioner. The suit was not defended. The marriage took place at Auckland in 1902. and there was one child alive. Petitioner said that when she married Jowitt he was a bush contractor. Their marriage was not made public for eight months. About nine months later respondent ceased making payments for her support. The surviving" child was born in 1907, and since then witness had seen the respondent only once. He had never provided a home for her. After hearing further evidence a decree nisi was granted, petitioned to have custody of th child. A WAYWARD WTDOW. David May Garner, for whom Mr Woodward applied, asked for the dissolution of his marriage with Laura Fanny Garner, on the ground that the respondent was a habitual drunkard, and neglected her household duties. Petitioner said he was a labourer livimx in .le.rmyn Street. He was married in Wellington five, years ago. the recpondent boing a widow. There were no children. Respondent's drinking habitshowed then-selves soon after the marriage. She would go to the hotel and get a bottle of whisky, and as soon as it was gone she would get another. She would finish a bottle in three or four days, and sometimes in two days. She She had cooked a meal for him on one occasion, and it was about all. Witness understood that he was her third husband. She told him -he had done seven days in Nelson for drunkenness, and that she had been prohibited. His Honor: She told you this after ma rriage ? Witness: Yes. H_ Honor remarked that according to the papers the respondent was only 32 when she married witness.