ADVERTISEMENT, LETTERS, MATRIMONY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 83, 9 April 1910, Page 9

ADVERTISEMENT, LETTERS, MATRIMONY.

THE SEQUEL: COURT PROCEEDINGS. [■V TILEGBitrH — FkSSS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, Bth April. A somewhat it range case occupied the attention of Mr. Kettle, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this afternoon, when Henrietta ConsUutina Violet Wilkie sued her husband, James Wiseman Wilkie, for maintenance. Complainant said she was about thirty years of age, and gave her hus band* age *s lorty-nine. They wero marrled eighteen months ago in Taj mania, ana the story of their meeting it on* of those unconventional things that do sometimes happen in real life. Mrs. Wi!kio explained that she answe.ed a matrimonial advertisement in i Hobart newspaper, and that wa» how she became acquainted with tho man, who lived in Auckland, and said he was a draper. His Worship asked what th« advertisement raid. Witness replied that it stated something about a Protestant, but che could aot remember the precise wording. They corresponded for some time, and the man sent over about twenty photographs of himself. The witness sent one, and then the man spoke about coming over him-st-If. She had been a school teacher. His Worship : Were you sane? Witness said »he hoped so. The letters were very nice, and gave globing accounts of things. Mr. Matthews, for complainant : He was so fascinated with the photograph she sent him that he at once went over from New Zealand, and they were married. Witness said after the marriage they came to Auckland. Wilkie was very good to her at first, and she was very fond of him, but when he struck her on one occasion she was forced to retaliate. She objected to his conduct with another woman who lived in the house, and decided to leave him. Witness handed up a written statement to the court, giving the leason why she could not live with her husband. His Worship's comment was : "I don't know what human beings are coming to if this is true.'' Mr. London, for defendant, was endeavouring to *how that the real difficulty was for the husband to keep his better half within bounds, but this was strongly denied. Suggestions of erotic temperament and insanity were both scouted. Counsel remarked : I think your husband is a cold, level-headed Scotsman. Witness : He is a very hot-beaded, revengeful man. Mr. Lundon w ent on to read from the letter, and stopped where the complainant twitted her correspondent with having called her an "angle," instead of an "angel." Mr. Matthews : You must remember that sho is a Master of Arts of the University of Tasmania. Mr. Lundon : And a master of men as well, apparently. In explanation of a question as to whether she had not given her husband cause {or remonstrance on the boat when they were coming over to New Zealand, she said she was very weaK once after being sea-sick, and a gentleman friend asked her to take his arm. She took it, and hi»r husband sulked in his cabin, and when she went aown he said she did not love* him any more if she would go promenading with another man. v After further evidence, both counsel informed the court that proceedings for divorce were to be taken. His Worbhip said the present cate had better stand over till the divorce petition nas heard.