AN AUCKLAND DIVORCE CASE.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 123, 17 November 1876, Page 6

AN AUCKLAND DIVORCE CASE.

Theattention of the Auckland publicis at present distracted from matters political bya famous divorce case, the full particulars of which will come to light in January In the meantime, the Daily Times writes of it as follows : — " For some months it has been rumoured that a notable divorce case was soon to come into Court affecting certain of the principal settlers 'at the special settlement of Karikati. It is arranged that the suit shall be b^ard at the i ivil Sessions in January next. The caße presents most extraordinary features. The petitioner is Mr George Yesey Stewart, the pioneer settler of the Katikati settlement, who sues for a divorce from his lawful wife, Margaret Torrens Stuart, on the ground of her adultery with Cecil Glecistones, Katikuti, a youth about 19 years old, who is one of Mr •Stewart's cadets, and who had been resident in his house. The following is the maiu substance of the petition : — ( 22nd Augu-t, 1876.— The petition of Geo. Vesey Stewart, Karikati, sheweth : 1. That your petitioner was on the 17rli day of April, 1856, lawfully married to .Margaret Torrens. Stewart, then Margaret Torrens Miller, spinster, at the Church of St. John's, Vloneyraore, in the county of Deny, Ireland 2 Th.it after said marriage, your petitioner lived and cohabited with his said wife at Lisbeg House, in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, and at other places, and 'latterly, from about the month of September, 1875, until the month of July, 1876, he cohabited with her at Katikati, in the said Province. 3 That your petitioner and his wife had issue of said marriage, to wit nine children. 4. That on the 10th day of July ; 1876,

and fit different, rimes between 10th urn! 15th days of July, 1876, the saiil Mtirgaret Ton-en? Stewart committed adultery with Cecil Gledstones of Katikati, settler at Katikati. • Your pe*.i* tioner humbly prays that your Honor will be pleased to decree that the said marriage of your petitioner with said Margaret Torrens Stewart shall be dissolved, and that your petitioner may have such relief as is asked for in the premises, and such further and other relief as to your Honor may seem meet. — G. Vesey Stewart.' The crim» of which Mrs Stewart is accused is intensified by the fact of Gledstones being her own nephew. The respondent's reply to the petition is a complete denial of the charge. Some of the allegations are so singular t ! iat the case is bound to provoke great public interest. The issues for the Jury were not quite settled. Citations were served on the respondenc and co-respondent at Katikati, 85th August,, and an answer was delivered by the respondent on the 27th September. As soon as Judge Gillies returns from Wellington the issues will be definitely shaped, and the case will be ripe for a Jury. Messrs Hesketh and Richmond are solicitors for the pe*;i • tioner, and Messrs Russell and Devore for respondent."