MARRIAGE FAILURES

Evening Star, Issue 19942, 11 August 1928, Page 11

MARRIAGE FAILURES

DIVORCE DAY IN COURT PETITIONS OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES CURATE CO-RESEONDENT. All tho morning His Honour Mr Justice Ostler was engaged in hearing the matrimonial troubles ot petitioners of both sexes who sought divorces. ' Edward Stephen Gale sought a divorce from Elfrida Lucia Gale on the ground of misconduct, the co-respondent being Ellis Claude Wroughton Hassall. Mr C. J. L. White (instructed by Mr J. W. Thomson) appeared for the petitioner. Gale stated in evidence that lie was married in March, 1925. There were no children. Till January oi tins year he lived with his wilo. On a Sunday evening she told him she had conceived an affection for another man. Mr White; “Was ho the curate ot the church she attended? ” Petitioner: “Yes.” His wife left home tho following clay, said petitioner. He interviewed Hassall. who admitted that his feelings towards Mrs Gale were similar to those she had expressed regarding him. He said he was going to take her away from New Zealand. Petitioner said they could not go to a place where tliev would not be found out, and that Mrs Gale would always be a marked woman. There were plenty of places, replied Hassall. Witness saw Ins wife and Hassall at her mother’s nouso: they had just returned from Fraser’s Creek. Hassall again said they intended to leave Now Zealand, and would in all probability go to Australia. Witness sent a letter asking bis wife to return, but she did not. On February 2 his wife said she was going to Waimate, but on February 3 she was back, and rang up to say she had not been to Waimate. On ‘February S ho was told Hassall and Mrs Gale. were going to Australia. Ho afterwards heard they had gone. Mrs Holworthy, of Palmerston, ceposed that a woman and u man she now identified as Mrs Gale and Hassall spent a night at her boarding house as “Mr and Mrs Masters.” they lett the nest morning, saying they wore

going to Melbourne. Mr 'White said ho had, a taxi driver to give evidence, but His Honour intimated that sufficient bad been proved. It was stated that tho parties were served in Melbourne. . His Honour granted a decree nisi, with leave to make it absolute at tho expiration of three months. Costs on tbo lowest scale were granted against co-respondent. DRINK THE TROUBLE.

Frances Ann Stevenson Summers (potitioucr) v. James Alexander Graham Summers (respondent), petition for divorce on the ground of separation for three years. Air A. O. Hanlon appeared for the petitioner and Mr W. Allan ior the resnondent. Petitioner said she was married in 1921. There were two children. Trouble arose between her husband and her on account of drink. In December, 1024, they separated, it being agreed she should ■ take tho younger child and he the elder one. She had maintained herself.

Corroborative eviVlonco was given by a sister of petitioner. His Honour granted a decree nisi, with leave to make it absolute after the expiration of three months. Costs on the lowest scale were granted against the respondent, and petitioner was given interim custody of the younger child. PERMANENT MAINTENANCE OF £750. Wilfred Lawson Broad (petitioner) v. Daisy Broad (respondent), petition for divorce on the ground of separation for three years. Mr W. G. Hay appeared for the petitioner. and Mr A. C. Hanlon for the respondent. Petitioner said ho was married in 1915, and lived with his wife till 1924. Then, owing to differences between them, a deed of separation was entered into, and they had not lived together since. Ho had made arrangements for the future maintenance of his wife. There was ono child, of whom he had charge. Corroborative evidence was given by a brother of petitioner. Mr Hanlon said there was an understanding that petitioner should pay £750 for respondent’s permanent maintenance Mr Hay said that was correct. His Honour granted a decree nisi, with leave to move it absolute after the expiration of three months. Petitioner was granted interim custody of the child. TOO FRIENDLY WITH HOST’S SON. David Oswald Taylor v. Ruth Taylor, petition for dissolution of marriage on the ground of desertion. Mr B. S. Irwin appeared for petitioner. Petitioner, in evidence, stated that he married respondent on August 31, 1918. Thy lived in Auckland. After a while she was in the habit of visiting friends named Sadgrove at Manurowa. He objected to this becaues he thought she was getting too friendly with one of the sons. On being spoken to she refused to leave this place, and packed up her things and left him. That was in December, 1922. Later ho met his wife in street, Auckland, arm in arm with Sadgrove. She told him ho could do what he liked. Mr Irwin: What did you do to Sadgrove ? Witness: I cleaned him np. Mr Irwin: You assaulted him? Witness: Yes. Witness continued that he had not scon his wife since. He had been living with his people after that. He left Auckland two and a-half years ago, and came to Dunedin, where he had worked in a boot factory ever since. Gertrude Sampson, sister oi petitioner, gave corroborative evidence. Thomas Grogan also gave evidence as to petitioner's residence in Dunedin. A decree nisi was granted, to be moved absolute at the expiration of three months. BRIEF MARRIED LIFE. Ernest Arthur Downes v. Frances Agatha Downes, petition for dissolution of marriage on the ground of desertion. Mr R. S. M. Sinclair appeared for the petitioner, and Dir A. C. Hanlon for the respondent. Petitioner stated that he married respondent on August 13, 1922, at St. Kilda. He was the father of a child born on August 1, 1922. After the marriage he Jived with his wife for one night. They then separated, he going to his homo at Mataura and she remaining in Dunedin. - In January, 1923, they lived together for a fort--1 night at Mataura, and then agreed to | separate. Respondent had custody of I the child. They had not lived together since. Benjamin Downes, father ol the petitioner, gave corroborative evidence, A decree nisi was granted, to be moved absolute in three months, respondent to have interim custody of the child. LEFT NEW ZEALAND. Sarah Elizabeth Smith (petitioner) v. Ernest Thomas Smith (respondent), | petition for divorce on the ground of ' desertion. Dir B. S. Irwin appeared for the petitioner. Petitioner stated in evidence that she was married in 1912. Her husband did not maintain her, and she took proceedings for separation and maintenance. '"Later be left New Zealand. She had maintained the children.

Evidence was given by a clerk of the Magistrate’s Court, who said a warrant was issued for the arrest of Smith in July, 1924, but had not been executed.

His Honour granted a decree nisi, with leave to move it absolute alter the expiration of three months. Costs on tho lowest scale wore granted against tbo respondent. A BANDSMAN’S TROUBLE, Walter James Blackley v. Susannah Blaokley, petition on the grounds of desertion. Mr B. S. Irwin appeared for petitioner, who said ho married the respondent at Ashburton on October 29, 1914. There was one child of tho marriage, but it died in infancy. They lived together for some time, but disputes arose over his going to a brass band contest.. On his return from a band contest at Nelson in 1921 his wife informed him that she was going her own way, and he could go his. She left on the following day. He bad not seen her since, but last December he received a letter from her asking him to divorce her. Nellie Holland, a sister of the respondent, gave corroborative evidence. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute after the expiration of three months. ADDICTED TO DRINK. Jessie Boraman (petitioner) v. Edward Boraman (respondent), petition for divorce on the ground of separation for tliree years. Mr A C Hanlon appeared for the petitioner, who said she lived happily with her husband till 1924, when bo became addicted to drink. In December, 1924, they separated, and they had not lived together since. After hearing corroborative evidence His Honour granted a decree nisi, with leave to make it absolute after the expiration of three months. A LENGTHY ABSENCE. George Knox v. Agnes Knox, petition for dissolution of marriage on the ground of desertion. Mr L. G. Cameron appeared for the petitioner. Petitioner stated that on January 24, 1902, ho married Agnes Davidson at, Dunedin. They lived together lor about eighteen months, but in September, 1903, she left him. and wfiii the exception of one letter he had had no correspondence with her, nor had ho seen her since she left him. Samuel Knox gave corroborative evidence. A decree nisi was granted, to bo made absolute after the expiration of three months. CASE OF DRINK. Jane Ann Wilson v, Alexander John Wilson, petition for dissolution of marriage on tho ground of separation for three years. Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the petitioner, who stated in evidence that she was married m August 7, 1912, and there were three children of the marriage. They resided at various places in New Zealand, but trouble arose owing to drink. She applied for a separation in April. 191 b. and an order was granted by the magistrate at Ractihi. Since then she bad' not lived with him. She had custody of the children. Matilda Fraser gave evidence and James Walker Bain, clerk of the Magistrate’s Court at Dunedin, produced a certified copy of the separation order. . . , . , . A decree nisi was granted, to bo moved absolute at the expiration of three months. Costs on the lowest scale were ordered against the respondent, and petitioner was granted interim custody of children. HUSBAND’S INFIDELITY. Margaret Blanche Wiley (petitioner) v. Alfred Bernard Wiley (respondent), petition for divorce on the ground of misconduct. Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the petitioner. Petitioner stated in evidence that she was married in 1917, one child being born in 1918. She had to go out to ■work. In June last she saw by tho newspapers that her husband was tho father of a child by another woman. Evidence having been given by a clerk of tho Magistrate’s Court, His Honour granted a decree nisi, with leave to move it absolute after the expiration of three months. DISAGREEMENTS. Carroll Christian Hansen v. Mario Elizabeth Hansen, petition for dissolution of marriage on the ground of separation for three years. Air A. C. Hanlon appeared for the petitioner. Petitioner, in evidence, said that he and Ins wife were married on September 11, 1916. There was one child of the marriage. After a time he and his wife disagreed, and a deed of separation was entered into on April 23, 1925. Since that date they had lived apart. His wife had custody of tho child. George Ansell gave corroborative evidence.

A decree nisi was granted, to he moved absolute at tho expiration of tbreo months.