DIVORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 71, 24 March 1919, Page 10

DIVORCE.

WIFE'S ALLEGED DRUNKEXXESS. An unusual divorce case heard by Mr Justice Cooper waa that in which William Brander (Mr- C. J. Schnauer) asked for a dissolution of his marriajje with Kathleen Mary Theresa Brander. The peculiarity lay in the fact that the respondent is resident in England, and was never in New Zealand. Mr. IT. 1 , . Richmond, instructed by a London firm fit solicitors, watched proceedings on behalf of the respondent, in respect to alimony, no defence having been filed. The petition was on the ground of the respondent's alleged habitual drunkenness and neglect of her household duties. The petitioner stated that he had been a resident of New Zealand since the early part of 1016. lie came out to a situation here because his business as a London stockbroker had come to an end through the war. He was married in T/cndon in IOCKt. and some time after his wife took to excessive drinking. From 100.) onwards a number of attempts were made to euro her. but none of the?o had any effect. During the last four or five years that he h;ul lived w'.tli her not a single week passed in which she was not drunk. Ho was compelled to take control of the household expenditure and direct the servants, because if his wife were allowed any money she spent it on drink. In January. 1015, he k-ft her. He had personal knowledge that she was convicted on one occasion of drunkenness. There were no children.

A number of aflidavita made in England were put in, showing that re-.-ponde.nt had been served with the paper-*, and that she had teen charged with another offence than drunkenness. His Honor .-aid that lie wished to have time to go through the papers, and aerordingly stood the case down. After consideration lip recorded a decree nisi, to be made absolute in six months. Tin' wife was granted alimony £2 a week. VERDICT FOR RESPONDENT. In the defended divorce action. Michnpl Harcneady (Mr. E. Mahony) v. Ellen Hartneady (Mr. J. G. Haddow), the jury, after a retirement of five minute?, returned a verdict to the effect that the respondent had not committed misconduct, and that the petitioner was the father of her child, the paternity of which he had denied. DECREE NISI GRANTED. 11l the case of Dorothy Dumper v. Charles Edward Dumper (desertion), a decree nisi was granted.