Tired of the Whole Business

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 221, 4 September 1926, Page 5

Tired of the Whole Business

WIFE’S CONTINUOUS VIOLENCE HUSBAND OBTAINS DIVORCE Aucklano, Sept. 8. A pathetic divorce action based on habitual drunkenness on the part of the wife, came before Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court to-day, when Joseph Buckley, an elderly man afflicted with deafness, asked for the dissolution of a marriage contracted nearly 40 years ago. The respondent, Catherine Buckley, although she was in another room, did not appear in court. Her counsel, Mr. Sullivan, obtained leave to withdraw the answers to the petition, making it an undefended action. The petitioner was a sorrowful figure in the witness box, and bis story was drawn out more by tho questions of his counsel (Mr. Singer) than by his monosyllabic answers. The petitioner said that almost from the time the marriage was contracted on November 7th.. 1888. drink had obsessed his wife. Although there were six children of the marriage, the home was a scene of continuous outbursts of violence. His wife would break furniture and tear blankets, and only a few years ago smashed a door with ar. axe. Respondent was arrested lor drunkenness of different occasions and once disappeared from home, and when traced with great difficulty was found to be living under an assumed name. Mr. Sullivan said the respondent admitted having taken to drink following a shock four years ago. She had not been drinking all through her married life. Mr. Singer said Buckley had brought the petition because lie was tired of tho whole business. Mr. Sullivan: The petition was not defended, hut it was right and proper he should mention that the wife has not been drinking for eight months past, ever since the petition was served. A decree nisi was granted.