DIVORCE DAY

Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 10

DIVORCE DAY

PETITIONS BY HUSBANDS AND WIVES JUDGE GRANTS DECREES Petitions by husbands and wives for divorces on various grounds were heard in the Supreme Court this morning by His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy. WIFE’S PETITION. ' Isabella Shanks sought a divorce from John Johnstone Shanks on the ground of desertion. Mr B. S. Irwin appeared for the petitioner, who stated in evidence that she was married in December, 1902. She did not know the present whereabouts of the respondent. There were four children, and her- husband and she lived at Tapanui with the family till the end of 1922. Respondent was addicted to- drink, and on occasions locked the others out of the house. On New Year’s Eve of 1923 he put the petitioner and two daughters out of the house. They sheltered all night in the porch of the church, and when he went to work they returned to the house next morning. The two girls, the youngest son, and witness_ came to Dunedin, where witness obtained employment. She had not received any support from the respondent, though, till February, 1925, he contributed towards the support of some children. She had not since seen or heard of him. Corroborative evidence was given, and His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute after the expiration of three months. HUSBAND’S DESERTION. On the ground' of desertion Edith Beck sought a divorce from William Thomas Beck. Mr B. A. Quelch appeared for the petitioner, who said she was _ married in 1896. There were three children of the marriage. After a separation the parties were reconciled in 1919. In 1922 she brought him to Dunedin to take him away from Auckland associates. He received a sum of money from the Government in lieu .of superannuation after having left the military forces. In 1924 he went to Wellington. She went to Wellington some months later, and asked him what he was going to do about supporting her daughter and her, but he left. the room and would not see her. She returned to Dunedin and had not seen him since. Corroborative evidence was given, and His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute after the expiration of three ' months. 'An order for costs was made against respondent. FAILED TO RETURN. Ronald Owens (petitioner) v. Frances Mary Owens (respondent), petition for divorce on the ground of failure _ to comply with a decree for the restitution of conjugal rights. Mr B. S. Irwin appeared for the petitioner, and Mr I. B. Stevenson entered an appearance for the respondent. Petitioner stated that he was married in April of 1934. After about: 15 months his wife left him without cause, and he obtained an order for restitution of conjugal rights, but she had not obeyed the order. Corroborative evidence having been given. His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute after the expiration, of three months. MUTUAL SEPARATION. Bruce Mary Drummond sought a dissolution of her marriage With Peter Carmichael' Drummond on the ground of, mutual separation for upwards. of three years. Mr 0. G. Stevens appeared for the (Petitioner, who said she was married in Aferch, 1924, there being one child. Unhappy differences led to a separation argument in 1921, and since then they had lived apart. Having heard corroborative evidence, His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after the expiration of three months. Petitioner was granted interim custody of the child, and_ an order for costs was made against the respondent. ORDER NOT OBEYED. George W. Gibbs sought a divorce from Ruby Gibbs on the ground of failure to comply with a decree for restitution of conjugal rights. ' Mr C. J. L. White appeared for the petitioner, who said he was married in January, 1936. Last year the order directing his wife to return to him was made, but she had not returned to the home which he had ready. After hearing corroborative evidence His Honor granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute after the expiration of three months. AGREED TO SEPARATE. Arthur John Jenkins, petitioned for a divorce from Dorothy Gertrude. Jenkins on the ground of separation for over three years. Mr J. .Robertson appeared for the petitioner, who was married in January, 1927. There were no children. In 1933, said the petitioner, his wife would not go to Invercargill, where he had a job,- and they agreed to separrate. He sent her money from time to time. Since 1933 he had lived with his parents in the south, and his wife would not come to Invercargill. Corroborative evidence was given, and His Honour granted a decree nisi, tn be made absolute after the expiration of three ' months. PETITION BY WIFE. Edith Lilian Kennedy sought a divorce from Archibald Kennedy on the ground of mutual separation for upwards of three years Mr G. M. Lloyd appeared for the (petitioner, and Sir 0. J. L. White ■entered an appearance for the respondent. Petitioner stated that she was married in August, 1922. In March, 1933, a separation agreement was agreed upon, and since then they had lived apart. She had since worked in Dunedin and other places in the north. Evidence was given by the petitioner’s mother, and further hearing was held over for additional evidence to be adduced. UNHAPPY DIFFERENCES. Isabella Stewart Stevenson Harpur (petitioner) v. Prosper Butler Harpur (respondent), petition for divorce on the ground of separation for over three years. Mr G. V. Murdoch appeared for the petitioner, who said she was married m March, 1921, and lived in Dunedin till a separation agreement was entered into in September, 1933, as the result of unhappy differences. Since then the petitioner had lived apart. There was an adopted child, anti because of the failure of the respondent to pay maintenance petitioner in 1931 secured a separation, maintenance, and guardianship order against him. After hearing other evidence His Honour granted a decree nisi, to he moved absolute after the expiration of

three months. Petitioner was granted the interim custody of the child, aud an order for costs was made against the respondent. WIFE’S DESERTION. Henry Robert Samuel Barker (petitioner) v, _ Eva May Barker (repondent), petition for divorce on the ground of desertion. Air C. J. L. White appeared for the petitioner who said he was married in April. 1919. His wife and he lived happily till 1927. In that year she began to attend dances. She went to a dance one night and did not come home. Petitioner saw her, but she would not return. He had not seen her since. Corroborative' evidence was given, and His Honour granted a decree nisi, to he made absolute after the expiration of three months. DESERTION ALLEGED, Elizabeth Brown sought a divorce from James Brown on the ground of desertion. Petitioner, for whom Mr G. T. Baylee appeared, said she was married in December, 1916. There was frequent trouble between them because of his drinking and because of his going away for days at a time. In March, 1922, he left home, and since then she had not heard from him. _At this stage the court adjourned till the afternoon.