BROKEN BONDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 261, 4 November 1927, Page 5

BROKEN BONDS.

UNDEFENDED DIVORCE. FOUR DEGREES GRANTED. "ALWAYS IN DEBT." Undefended divorce cases occupied the attention of Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court this morning. The principal trouble between Lilian Mary Stonell (Mr. Luxford) who petitioned for a divorce from Harry Harrison Stonell, appeared to be the gambling habits of the latter. In evidence petitioner said she was married to respondent on August 3, 1921, and till three years ago she had lived with her husband at Morrinsville. There was one child of the union. The real trouble between her and respondent, was that the latter was very fond of races, and he could not afford them. He was always in debt through gambling, and, in addition, he was cruel to her. The climax to the matrimonial discord, witness indicated, was on June 19, 1924, when her husband after "a big row" told her she would have to get out of the place. Petitioner spent the night with neighbours, and the following day agreed with her husband that in view of their unhappiness it was better for them to part. Respondent remained at Morrinsville, where he was employed as a railway servant, while petitioner came to Auckland and secured employment. She had maintained herself ever since, while her child was living with her mother in Paeroa. His Honor said that respondent said the real trouble was that petitioner had neglected her child. Petitioner denied this allegation. She was very fond of the child, she said, and her mother brought it to see her every day now that she was living in Paeroa. Zita Moylon, sister of petitioner, gave corroborative evidence, and a decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months. Respondent's Misconduct. Myrtle Hartigan (Mr. Allan Moody, instructed by Mr. Dickson) sought a dissolution of her marriage with Martin Hartigan, on the grounds of misconduct. The parties were married on February 22, 1911, and there were three children of the marriage, according to petitioner's statement. In 1925 her husband went to live with Louisa Murphy, at Levin, and in 1926, the latter had had an illegitimate child.

Constable Bagley said that respondent had admitted to him that he was the father of the chi'y, and was maintaining Murphy and the child.

A decree nisi was granted to be made absolute in three months. Petitioner was given the custody of the children. "Lived Unhappily.» On the grounds of mutual separation for the statutory period, Gertrude Margaret Chamberlain (Mr. Allan Moody) applied for a divorce from Thomas Chamberlain.

The petitioner, who was married on December 23, 1914, said that up till July, 1922, she lived very unhappily with her husband, who had a violent temper. On one occasion he had struck her. On July 14, 1922, the parties had entered into a deed of separation, which was still in existence. She had not lived with her husband since that date A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months. Disobedience of Orders.

Failure to comply with an order for restitution of conjugal rights resulted in a decree nisi (to be made absolute in three months) being issued against Doris Florence Clews. Petitioner was Lionel Charles Clews. In evidence he said tbat an order for the restitution of conjugal rights had been made in his favour in July last, but his wife had not returned. She went away in December last, owing to a disagreement over a small banking transaction, and also owing to the fact that he was "in a motion picture." He had been maintaining his child, and until some little time ago his wife also. His wife had about £1500 of capital. The disobedience of a similar order was the ground of a successful application by Henry Herbert Lowe (Mr. Hogg) for the dissolution of his marriage with Violet Jane Lowe.

Petitioner, who was married at Palmerston North on December 6, 1923 said hi 9 wife had not returned to him in response to an order for restitution of conjugal rights issued in September last. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months.