DIVORCE SUITS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1944, Page 6

DIVORCE SUITS

UNDEFENDED CASES

OVER TWENTY PETITIONS

Over twenty divorce petitions, and several petitions for restitution of conjugal rights, were heard before Mr. Justice Johnston in the Supreme Court to-day.

Jeanie Moira Luxton (Mr. R. g_ Burt), petitioning for divorce from' William Luxton, said they were mar. ried in 1906. In July 1942 her husband left home and came to Auckland to live. Last year she read in a newspaper that he was cited as ccrespondent in a defended divorce case. Corroborative evidence was given by Leo Cyril Stewart who said that last year he obtained a divorce from his wife on the ground of her adultery with William Luxton petitioner's husband. Witness was awarded £500 damages.

A decree nisi was granted. Wives Wanted Back

A soldier who had returned from overseas in July last, Ronald John Swan (Mr. Sullivan), said he married his wife Kathleen Joyce Swan in March, 1940, before he went overseas. The wife met him on his return, but stayed with him only a few days. Before leaving she told him she was more interested in an Allied soldier. Petitioner said he wanted his wife back, and a decree was made ordering her to return to him within 14 days.

Another soldier, Ronald Patrick Fitzgerald (Mr. W. W. King) said he married Lillian Theresa Fitzgerald in 1936. He went overseas with the forces and his wife wrote to him saying she had committed adultery He continued to write to her, and she met him on his return but did not return to live with him. He still wanted her back. An order was made directing the wife to return to her husband within 14 days. On Various Grounds Decrees nisi granted on the ground of separation by mutual consent for more than three years were:—Edwin Oswald Keith Kitchen (Mr. Hubble) v. Rose Doris Kitchen; Sydney Redvers Salter (Mr. Goldwater), v. Gwendolene de Voll Salter; Jeanie Barrie lorns (Mr. R. S. Burt), v.' Joseph lorns; William Charles Sayer (Mr. Wiseman), v. Kathleen Anna Sayer; Charles William Sullivan (Mr. Sullivan), v. Olive Elizabeth Sullivan; Leonie Catherine Emms (Mr. Garland), v. Frederick McDonald Emms; Annabell Grant (Mr. W. W. King), v. Colin Joseph Grant; George Garfield Davis (Mr. W. W. King), v. Mary Helen Davis; Roma Minnie Brittain (Mr. Henry), v. Desmond Peter Brittain.

On the ground of failure to comply with a decree for the restitution of conjugal rights, decrees nisi were granted in the following petitions:—Edward Heath Church (Mr. West), v. Hilda Margaret Church; Alexander Thomas Sharp (Mr. Quartley), V. Mary Quin Sharp; Noel Hazleton Lundon (Mr. Alderton), v. Georgea Ernesta Lundon; Phyllis Ruth Woodward (Mr. Wood), v. Thomas James Woodward; Harold William Walter Bates (Mr. Henry), v. Evelyn Wilhemina Louvain Bates.

Decrees nisi were granted in the following petitions on the ground of desertion: —Allen Reginald Davies (Mr. HaiEh) v. Dorothea Sophia Davies; William Roy Bint (Mr. Wood) v. Florence Bint; Richard Godfrey Smith (Mr. Sullivan),) v. Catherine Smith; Enid Sybil Knowles (Mr. W. W. King), y. Charles Roblev Knowles; Arthur Stanley Willis (Mr W W. King), V. Ivy Madoline Wnhs; Ste Ella Jones (Mr. W W. King), v Frederick Patrick Jones; Roderick McKeddie (Mr. Henry), v. Ngakaukura Hunro McKeddie. , _._..„ . , Orders for the.restitution, of: conjugal rights were made in the following other petitions:—Norman Edward Grange (Mr. Meek)) v. Nelita Muriel Grange; Samuel Guarlford Wathen (Mr. Wiseman), v. Christina Wathen; Olaf Peter Douglas Mortensen (Mr. Henry), v. Shirley Joan Mortensen.