IN DIVORCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1243, 27 September 1911, Page 3

IN DIVORCE.

THE UNDEFENDED CASES. Tha Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) heard a number of undefended, divorce cases in the Supreme Court yesterday morning. ' Hastings James Churchill petitioned for dissolution of marriage with Sissy Blanche Churchill on tho ground of misconduct with Henry Jl'Lecd. of C'arterton, corespondent. Jlr. T. 31. Wilford appeared for the petitioner. According to the evidence of petitioner tho parties were married at Levin on March 11, 1897, and subsequently resided together at C'arterton up till January of the present year, where the petitioner carried on business as a. tailor. ■ There was one child of the marriage, now 13 years of age. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in threo mouths. Costs were allowed on tho lowest sc.ole. Joliannah Kelly, for wTiom 3lr. T. M. Wilford appeared, sought dissolution of her marriage with Timothy Kelly on the ground of desertion. The parties were married at Westport on April 28, 1891, and resided together until August, 1901, when the husband, who was addicted to drink, left his wife, and had r.ot since resided with her or contributed to her support. There were two children of the marriage, the eldest being 19 years of aije. Petitioner, who is a milliner and saleswoman, had supported herself and children since 1901. A decree nisi was granted, to he made absolute in three months. Costs on the lowest scale weio allowed.

Robert Allan Mitchell, v aveliouseman and agent, asked that his marriage with Alice Maude Mitchell might be dissolved on the groundyOf desertion. Mr. T. M. Wilford appeared for the petitioner. The parties were married at Taunton, Somerset, on August 12, 1890, and resided together at different places in England until I!HH. There was ono child of tho marriage. In 180!) the respondent inherited between A'3ooo and .fctOOO, and purchased a hotel in Clifton, Bristol. Later elie disposed of the hotel, but became discontented, and declined to settle down in private life. In April, 100-1, slia left her husband in London, and had since declined to join him, though ho had several times re(jnested her to como back, both before and after ho left England. His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in tlireo months.

' Kezia Jano Thomas petitioned for divorce from Charles Thomas on the ground that her husband was of unsound mind, and had been in a mental hospital for over 10 years. Jlr. T. Jf. \Vilford appeared for the petitioner and Mr. T. Neave for the Crown Solicitor, guardian ad litem. The parties were married in January 1879, at Wellington, and thero was one child of the marriage, who had died some 25 years ago. In December, 18S0, the husband had been admitted to a mental hospital and was still confined in ono at .Auckland. Petitioner had not Keen him for 20 years. The authorities held out no hope, of his recovery. A decroo nisi was granted. Christina Jane Reynolds, who had Jlr. T. M. Wilford for her, petitioned for dissolution of marriage with Edward Brown Reynolds on the ground of desertion. Evidence was to the effect that the parties had been married at Auckland in ISTO and had lived together till ISS6, when the husband left his wife, iind with the exception of .£2O which he forwarded to Inr during the- first year, he had not otherwise contributed to her support or to that of the five children of the marriage, who were now all over age. Petitioner did not now know of her husband's whereabouts. A decree nisi was grunted to bo mad& absolute! in three months.

Arthur Easterby Stokes, butcher, of Aramoho, sought dissolution of marriage with Ada Kosinn Stokes on Hie ground of desertion. Cecil Hooch was riled as co-respondent, lint the ground oT inisrnnduct was not proceeded agaiii'K Mv. J'. P. Kelly appeared for tho petitioner. Evidence was to the effect that the tnarriago of the parties took place at

Wellington on February 15, 190G, and (ho wife had left her husband as tho result of a rertain conversation Iliat had passed Ik'lwkcii , them. Since then lespondont had not resided with her husband, who Inst saw her on Juno 10 Ibis year. His Honour remarked that the evidence was scarcely strong enough regarding tlie dt-scrlioii and the case was adjourned ill the meantime. iiichard James Moore Lang, of Maslcrlon, sought dissolution of marriage with Jewic Ellen Elmbelli Lime; on the ground of desertion. Mr. T. It. Wilfoid appeared for petitioner. The parties were married o'.i September HI. 100!!, ami the wife had deserted her husband in June, 190 G. A decree ni>i was granted, to be made absolute in lliren month.-.

William Mari-hull Merrigold pc-l itioncil for dissolution of marriage with Beatrice Merrignld <m the ground of miseunduct with Andrew Dunn, co-respondent. Mr. T. .)!. Wiliord appeared for tlie petitioner. Evidence was given to tlie effect that the parties had bee.:i married on August S, 11)1)0, mid had lived together in ■Wellington until Juno, 190:!. There were no children of the marriage. In June, 1902, respondent left her husband. A decree nisi was granted. Harold Douglas Barton, for whom Mr. T. JI. Wilford appeared, .sued for dissolution of his marriage with Henrietta Eloyse Ida Barton, on the ground of misconduct with George Henry Williams, co-respondent. According to the evitlcnco the parties wore married at Pictermaritzburg, Natal, on December 6. 10(16, and had lived together in Natal and, afterwards, in New-Zealand. In March last petitioner had employed a private detective, named Samuel Free, to watch the respondent, and Free and a man named Charles Hazehvood gave evidence as to misconduct. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months, with costs agiinst the co-respondent. Proceeding? were in camera and publication of evidence was forbidden in the ease in which Victoria Millig;-.:i sued for dissolution of her marriage with William John Milligiin, plumber, of Wellington, on the ground of habitual drunkenness and cruelty. Mr. T. M. Wilford appeared for the petitioner. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months.