BROKEN ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 8

BROKEN ROMANCE.

DESERTED CORNISHMAN.

WIFE REFUSES TO JOIN HIM.

HOMES IN CANADA, U.5.A.,. AND NEW ZEALAND.

The broken romance of a Cornishmari and a girl of his own,romantic sea-girt Duchy was described in the Supreme Court, • to-day, when William J. T, Thomas, carpenter, new of was granted a divorce from his wife, Elizabeth Jane Thomas, on the grounds of desertion. In answer to Mr. «L J; Sullivan, petit tioned eaid he married his wife, a Cor* njsh jjirl named Curgenveri, at Truro, Cornwall,' in January, 1896. They lived together at Truro and in' other 'places in England .until 1909,: when -petitioner went to .Canada in tUe hope of getting a, better job. The understanding ' was that his wife should join him as soon as he became settled. , ■ Repeated Requests, Petitioner formed, a home, in Canada, but his wife refused to join him. In 1911 he left Canada for the United States, whence he wrote repeatedly to his wife asking'her to come out. He prepared three homes for her, but she refused to come. In or about December, 1920, petitioner left the States for New Zealand, where, early in 1922, he made arrangements for his wife to come out from England under the Imperial Overseas Settlement scheme. She still refused. From May, 1909, to 1914 petitioner regularly remitted money to respondent, the sum totalling over £300. About of the remittances were not acknowledged, but. petitioner had proof that the moneys had been received. He had received two letters from respondent, informing him that she did not intend to come back to him. She added in >the postscript to one of the letters: "I cannot make up my mind to come to you, even if I were ! well enough." Preferred New Zealand. Answering Mr. Justice Herdman, petitioner said he came to New Zealand at his wife's instigation. She had written to tell him when he was in the States that ahe did not want him to go to Australia. She would much rather they settled in New Zealand. He had. communicated with his! wife through the agency of the, Overseas; Settlement League, but ?he declined to join him. A .decree nisi was granted. . The custody of the. one child of, the marriage did not concern the Court, the girl being over 21 years ot age. Woman granted alimony. In the same Court_Minnie" Ethel McKepwn. (Mr. Simeon) was granted a decree nisi against Tier husband, 'Bernard Michael McKeown, on the ground of adultery. Petitioner was allowed custody of <the pne adopted• child. Alimony was also granted, ;