CHEF SEEKS DIVORCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1932, Page 10

CHEF SEEKS DIVORCE.

SEQUEL TO KOERBIN TRIAL. DECREE NISI GRANTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A criminal trial in Wellington in 192S in which considerable interest was taken was recalled in the Supreme Court to-day, when Herbert Koerbin, a chef, petitoned for a divorce from Marion Koerbin on the ground of constructive desertion. The suit was undefended, and Mr. Justice Blair, after formal evidence had been given, granted the petitioner a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months. The petitioner said there were two children of tho marriage, both of whom wero living with him. On June 15, 1925, lief- thought he saw his wife putting something into food meant for him. He became suspicious, and took a sample of tho food to tho police, who submitted tho sample to an analyst. During the previous six months his health had been very bad. He suffered from stomach trouble, giddiness and pains. The analyst took ten days to prepare his report. In that period he watched his wife through a slide, and saw his wife putting something into the food. As a result of the analyst's report two detectives went to his house, and they saw whot ho had been seeing. His wife was arrested. Poison was found in the pockets of her apron, and poison (barium carbonate) and ground glass in her boxes. Subsequently his wife was tried on charges of attempting to murder him and with having attempted to administer poison with intent to injure or annoy. She was found guily on the second charge, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. He took his children to Hobart, but subsequently returned to Wellington, and had not lived with his wife since.

Mr. E. G. Rhodes, Deputy-Registrar of the Supreme Court, produced the criminal record book, showing that Mrs. Koorbin was convicted and sentenced to charge of having attempted to administer poison. A son of tho petitioner gave formal evidence that his father had lived apart from the respondent since the time she was sentenced to imprisonment.