THE DIVORCE COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 73, 20 December 1920, Page 6

THE DIVORCE COURT

| EIGHTEEN UNDEFENDED CASES j DECREES GRANTED IN EACH CASE Eighteen undefended divorce cases wore dealt with in the Supremo Court, on Saturday by llis Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout). >■ Sarah Louisa Collett asked for dissolution of her marriage with Edward William Collett on the ground of desertion. She stated that she had lived with' her husband from tho date of the marriage, 186'.!, until 1693, when he had desorted her. The throi children of the marriage were now adults. A decree nisi was granted. Martha Thompson (Mr. T. M. Wilford) sought a divorce from Harold Mace Thompson on the grounds of-cruelty and failure to maintain. Counsel stated tlint einco the marriage in 1913 the husband had frequently ill-used his wife, nnd was often very drunk. A decrtjo nisi was granted. A similar decree was granted Bornard Ville Brooks, who proceeded against Mabel Isabella liroeks on th'» ground of misconduct. Counsel for the petitioner (Mr. Wilted) said that the respondent was guilty on her own admission. Annie Marie Littlejohn was granted a decree against Edward Alexander Littlejohn on the ground of desertion. The petitioner, for whom Mr. L. Cook appeared, stated that she was married in 11)02. but that her husband had failed to maintain her since 1904. On the ground that she had misconducted herself, Joseph Duffy (Mr. W. Perry) obtained a decree against Annie Duffy. Tho parties were married in England in 190(1, and later camo to New Zealand. The petitioner had served with the Now Zealand Expeditionary Foris, and tho respondent had admitted misconduct on his return. 1 Drunkenness was the ground on which Sarah Jane Orosaan asked for. tho dissolution of liv>r marrinire with William Alexander Crossan. For the petitioner, Mr. P. W. Jackson said that the parties had been married in 1898. The respondent had served with th« New Zealand Expeditionary I'orco. A decree was granted, Misconduct was the ground on which Joseph Arthur Bowley (Mr. H. I'. tfLeary) obtained a decree against Elizabeth Dinah Bowley. Evidence showed tliaxt the respondent had lived with her husband for only twelve months, and hnd sinc» lived with another man as, his wife. v On the ground of desertion Margaret Cecilia Hollow was granted a decree against William France Rosemnme Hollow, Mr. 11. P. O'Leary 6tatinp that tho respondent had left tho petitioner shortly after the-ir marriage in 1913. A similar decree was granted Bina Chisholm (Mr, H. F, O'Leary), who alleged desertion against Alexander Chisholm. It was stated that • the respondent had posed as a single man in Australia and nad gone to the war as such, not supporting his. wife in the meantime. Ellen Gillham, for wlfom Mr. O'Leary also appeared, was granted a decroe on tho ground, that William James Gillham hud committed adultery. The parties were married in and early in 1919 respondent had .left the petitioner. Evidence was given that Gillham had stayed in Wellington with another woman.,' On similar grounds a decreo was granted John Jackson against Uuby Ada Jackson, Mr. O'Leary appearing for the petitioner On the ground of desertion, Lilly Cullen sought a divorce from Georgo Honry Gnlono Cullen, who had left her in 1917. Mr. O'Leary, w;ho appeared for tho petitioner, said that her husband had gone to England and she hnd not heard from him. There Were four children of the marriage. A decree nisi was granted. On the ground of adultery the Jndge granted a decree to Daniel Nippert in his petition against Annie Minnie NipH?rt. Mr. O'Leary, for tho petitioner, said that,there had beon two children of the marriage, which had taken place in 1913. On the same count, Francis Hawkinß was granted a decree against Minnie Johanna Hawkins. For tho, petitioner Mr. O'Leary stated that respondent had left her husband soon after the marriage in 4 1910. Evidence was brought that the respondent had given birth to an Ultimate child in January, 1913. A decree nisi was granted Ifarry Hagen (Mr. M'Grath). vim stated that nfter his return from tho front his wife, Ethel nagen, refused to livo with him and went off with another man. Violpt Victoria Green alleged cruelty nnd adultery against John Charles Grerm. She stated that her husband, who was the manager of a picture 6how in Dunedin, had been misconducting himself with another woman. Thtrc were two children of the marriage,' Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the petitioner, who was granted a decree niai. On the count of adultery, Rolfcrt Charles Lister, for whom Mr. Jnck6on also appeared, wns given a decreo nisi against Ituby Mabel Lister, who had loft him after two years of married life, In November of this year she had written to him stating that she had had a child. A similar decree was granted Arthur Watson Bird, who askod for a divorce from Dorothy Maud Bird on tljj ground of adultery. For the petitioner, Mr. O. C.. Mazengarb said that the parties were married in 1918 and ttiere were two childron. Tha respondent had misconducted herself with a man named M'Ginnity.