DIVORCE COURT

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 112, 8 November 1920, Page 8

DIVORCE COURT

A DEFENDED CASE

Sitting in divorce this morning, His Honour Sir.Bassett Edwards and a jury of twelve, of which Mr. P Watt was foreman, commenced the hearing of the case of Caleb Jesse Maslin v. Edith Mary Maslin, an application for divorce on the ground of adultery. Charles Henry Osmond waa joined as co-respondent, and £2000 damages were claimed. Mr. 0. Beere appeared for the petitioner, Mr. H. F. (rLeary for the respondent, and Mr. W. Perry for the co-respondent. In opening the case for the petitioner, Mr. Beere said the marriage took place in Nelson some fourteen years ago, and there were no children. Some eight months ago Mrs. Maslin, after a holiday, said she had taken a billet in Osmond's office. Some time ago petitioner's suspicions were aroused, a private detective was employed. The inquiries lasted from 2nd to 16th October, and the result -was. the present proceedings. Petitioner" said that at the end of last March his wife Teturned from Auckland. She'told him Ehe had heard of a billet at Osmond' 3, and that she had secured it. She told him every Saturday night 'that she was going out with some girls, whose mothers were very particular, but she ~would not give him their names. That went on for months, and his suspicions were aroused, and he employed a detective to watch hi? wife. He detailed various occasions on which; he al- ! leged, his wife had been with Osmond in the co-respondent's shop at night, with the lights out, and that they had left the shop together. Finally, on 16th October, he and the detective saw his wife and Osmond pome out of the shop,' and he iride to him the charge that was the subject of the divorce proceedings. Osmond said : "Very well; then we understand one another." In answer to Mr. O'Leary, witness said respondent was his third wife. He was 63 years of ,age; his wife was considerably younger. Mrs. Maslin had a b<Jy and girl by a former marriage. the last twelve months his "wife had consulted a doctor on account of illness. His wife, before she took the billet with Osmond, had complained that witness's salary was not sufficient for the upkeep of the household. ■ He raised no objection to her talcing the billet with Osmond. Mr. Perry:' "Mr*. Maslin is your third wife and now you want to get rid of her and take a fourth?" Witness : "I have never hinted at it." "That is your reason for getting rid of her?!'—"No; because she has not played fair." . "Not that you. want to get money from the co-respondent?"—"lt is absolutely nothing to me. All I want is my wife." < . . . "Why'did you put in a claim for £2000 damages?."—"lt was the suggestion of my solicitor. I Teckon the man who ruined my life should, pay for it. "Mrs. Maslin'i son and daughter were stamp collectors,'and she used to bring work home from Osmond's stamp establishment, and she and her daughter and son used to visit the shop. He visited ths shop on a Sunßay. Mrs. Maslin had left the key on her table and he entered the Bhop for the purpose of making an inspection.

(Proceeding.)