THREE WIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1934, Page 6

THREE WIVES

MATRIMONIAL TANGLE

ALL WOMEN SET FREE

SYDNEY, December 3.

The matrimonial adventures of Victor Clarence Mitchell, who went through the marriage ceremony with three women at different times, brought about a-n unusual tangle, which Mr Justice Boyce wa s asked to unravel in the Sydney Divorce Gouit. Mitchell’s first venture was with his aunt, Pearl Sylvia Mitchell, whom he married under the name of Gibbons in August, 1925. When this maiii-age was found later to be within the prohibited degree of affinity a decree for its nullity was granted in December, 1930. Before the’decree of nullity bad been .made,, ’however, Mitchell—this time milder Ibis n'anve went through the marriage ceremony with Hilda Mary Madsen on March 2, 1929. Then, while the,second wife was alive, he went through the marriage ceremony a third time with Elizabeth Mary Smith under the name of Gibbons on September 1, 1933 The last two wives asked the Court for relief. The second wife asked for dissolution of her marriage on the ground of the respondent’s marriage to Elizabeth Alary Smith. The third wife asked for the nullity of her marriage on the ground that Mitchell's lawful wife, the second woman he married, was alive. Air Justice Boyce said that the first marriage was null and void from the beginning. He agreed that- the secon-d marriage was a. good one, and granted the second wife a decree nisi for its dissolution. He found the issues raised by the third wife in her favour and granted her a -decree of nullity. The respondent wa s ordered to pay costs.