RECORD HEARING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 103, 3 May 1932, Page 7

RECORD HEARING.

MARATHON DIVORCE.

Sydney Society Suit Extends

Over 87 Days

VERDICT AGAINST WIFE,

(United r.A—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

SYDNEY, May 2.

Judgment was delivered to-day in a society divorce suit which has broken all State records. It Las occupied 87 days and 103 witnesses were examined. The legal costs are estimated at more than £20,000.

The parties were Sydney John Field, meat exporter, and his wife, Ivy Field, who initiated the suit, alleging misconduct. . The husband filed a cross-peti-tion on the same ground, joining three persons as co-respondents, two of whom were struck out of the case during the hearing. The third co-respondent, Roland Nott, warehouseman, was to-day adjudged guilty of misconduct with Mrs. Field. Mr. Justice Owen found that Mrs. Field had been reckless and untruthful in her charges against her husband, and that her allegations with regard to his misconduct with other women and her charges of cruelty had not been proved.

On the other hand, Mrs. Field was hold to have been guilty of misconduct with Nott in the early part of last year. Counsel for the wife and Nott announced their intention of appealing.

The husband's alimony payments of £50 a week to his wife were reduced to £15.

A decree nisi was pronounced. The husband was ordered to pay his wife's costs, also the costs of the two co-respon-dents eliminated from the case. Nott was ordered to pay Mr. Field's costs.

The case of Field v. Field has been before the Court since May 28, 1931, when Mrs. Ivy Gladys Field petitioned for a divorce from Sydney John Field, and applied for £100 a week alimony. In dealing with the alimony application, petitioner's counsel, Mr. Curtis, K.C., stated at the first day's hearing that respondent was a very wealthy man. His wife had been accustomed to a palatial home, servants, motor cars and £50 a week, but she was not offered more tnan £15 a week out of her husband's income of £5000 a year. Mr. Maxwell, _ K.C.. counsel for respondent, said the income was £3000 a year. Mr. Curtis said he understood the Field estate was worth about £1,000,000. Pending investigation, the wife's alimony was fixed at £20 a week, but later the amount was raised to £50.

Respondent, in an affidavit, said he was employed by T. A.' Field, Limited, at a salary of £520 a year. His only other income was 4% per cent per annum interest on £53,700 deposited with his company.