THE WALLACE DIVORCE CASE.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 284, 9 December 1907, Page 5

THE WALLACE DIVORCE CASE.

A ORIOKET AND YACHTING SENSATION.

WORSHIP OP A BROTHER

The other day our cabled nows from Melbourne referred to a sensation caused by the Wallace divorce cape, in which Charles Duukloy Wallace, the well known yaolitsraau. and owner of the crack InterState racer, Sayonara, and after of the-splendid Auckland built Boua, soufiht to obtain a divorce from his wife. Mrs Wallace and ho were well known figures m Sydney and Melbourne Society, and the co-respondent, Dr R. H. Stronß, wasnoted as a Victorian athlete and is a son of the exMayor of Melbourne. Further interest was attached to the case from the introduction of the name of the bowler now playing such havoc with Australian wickets, and who stayed with the last English team at the Hotel Australia, Sydney, where also the Wallaces stayed.

The Australian mail has brought full accounts of the case from which the following is condensed :—

The hearing was before the Chief Justice and a jury of 12. The parties were married in March 1901, at St. Catherine's Church of England, Liverpool, England.

It was alleged by the petitioner that on various days of May, June, and July, 1907, respondent misconducted herself with Dr Strong at the residence of the respondent's sister, Mrs Vivian Parker, St. Kilda. The allegations of misconduct were denied by the respondent, who filed counter-jharges, in which she alleged that between December, 1905, and April, 1907, petitioner misconducted himeelf with various women. A strong bar was engaged. THE HUSBAND'S EVIDENCE. Petitioner gavo evidence as follows : I live on my means. I was married in England in 1901, and on arriving in Australia the followiug year lived at the Esplanade Motel, St. Kilda. From there I went to Haldon, on St. Kilda Road, where my son was born, and he is the only child of the marriage. After living for six nronths at Haldon we went to stay at Alma Road. At that time I owned the yacht Sayonara, but Mrs Wallace said it was too small for ladies, and that I was selfish in keeping it. I told her that I would build a bigger boat for her, and I then ordered a larger yacht which I called the Bonft. This wsa built in Sydney. Up to that time the relatione between my wife and myself had been very friendly. In that summer my wife spent some time in New Zealand with friends. She was away about three months, and during that time we corresponded. She returned in February, 1903, and brought back with her a friend. After her return we did not get on quite so well' as before. Mrs Wallace was not so affectionate, and she went out more frequently. A nurse had to look after our child and home. Her friend went back to New Zealand in August, 1903. When she had left I found a letter which I afterwards returned to Mrs Wallace. I found it in her writing pad where I was searching for some notepaper. I saw "My Darling Kiddie" written on the outsine of the paper, and I then read the letter. It was, I believe, afterwards destroyed. It was signed either "Cecil, 'or "Cecil Hawkins.'' Hawkips is a young man who lived in Christohurch. -When 1 found .the letter I, waited until Mrs Wallace returned,* and I said to her, "I went to" your desk to get a piece of notepaper, and I found this letter.'' I said • • Take it and destroy it, or I ehall use it against you." I don't remember all that was said. I was too angry. Up'to that time I had beenallowing my wifo £250 per annum to clothe herself and child. On her return from New Zealand I increased it to £300. That was before I discovered the letter. In Ootober, 1903, I went to Sydney with Mrs Walace and a lady friend. ' The child did not go with us as Mrs Wallace would not take him. We stayed at the Australia Hotel until about New Year, 1904.

BRAUND TAKES THE WICKET.

Whilst staying at the Australia, we met L. C. Braund, a professional cricketer in the English cricket team. My wife saw a good deal of him, and I told her that I know Braund was no good and she should not knock about with him. I said to her, "You are only making a laughing-stock of me in front of everybody in the hotel." She replied that Braund was a gentleman, and that she did not believe what I said. I then told my wife that Braund had shown me letters he had received from certain undesirable women in Sydney. She said she did not believe it, as he was a gentleman. On several other occasions I had to speak to her. When the crioketers were going to Molbourne I found Mrs Wallace in her bedroom orying. She asked me to allow her to go to Melbourne to see the child. I told her that she had stayed away from the child so long that another week would not matter. I added, "You only want to go to Melbourne after Braund. , ' She replied that she did not I argued with her about Braund, and went on iny bended knees to her, and asked her to have nothing more to do with him. She threw her head back and laughed, saying, "A nice sort of man you are to admit that you can't keep your wife to yourself. Why the devil don't you get another one, and uot oome woirying me?" A fortnight later Mrs Wallace went back to Melbourne by train. I brought the boat round. The English cricketers were then in Tasmania, but shortly afterwards they came to Melbourne. GENTLEMAN AND CAD." When they returned I told my wife she was still carrying on with Braund. I told her she was meeting him, ami I begged her not to do so. She said he was a gentleman, and I was a cad. I saw her meet Braund. It was on a Saturday uiorniug, about February, 1904. There was a cricket match at the Melbourne Ground that day. About that time I found a letter in the waste-paper basket in Mrs Wallace's room. It was torn but I pieced it together/ It was dated February 11th 1904, ani read as follows:—"My darling old Len,— Well, dear, guess you are just arriving at the Australia. I wonder if you have thought of your old kiddie once since yesterday? I hope so, Len. Well, darling, lots have happened since you left last night. There was a big row, and don't be surprised if you get word at any time that I leave by the Sonoma on the 27th of this month for New York. Poor little nurse cried all night. I was so "sorry for her." I said to Mrs Wallace, "You have bee.«Vriting to Braund." She said

she had not, and added, "If I did write, I didn't post it." ANOTHER SOCIAL LIGHT APPEARS.

Did you find anything else? Wβ were talking about it one> morning, and ehe said I was a mean sneak going to the waste-paper basket. I said, "Well, so that I won't be a mean sneak, I'm going to your writing pad, to see if I can find anything more." I found a piece of blotting paper and took it to a mirror and read it. It waa my wife's hand writing. Mr Bryant: Can you read anything there? Witness (examining the pad): Yes,, it reads "Letter to-morrow. I hopeit comes; good-bye,sweetheart, good luck and be good. Always your loving Kiddie." Then there is a. blank, and the following woras:— "I love you; anyone would. I don't; care who knows it.—Will Lawson, Eeq." THE PRIVILEGE OF BREAKFAST. Witness, continuing, said: Mrs Wallace was present when I found the letter. Lawson was in Sydney when we went there. 1 purchased "Lanark" in 1904 at Mrs Wallace's request. She said if I would buy it she would get up early every morning and have breakfast with me. She said she would look after the green house herself, and would not go into town so much. I then thought all would be happy again. We went to live at •'Lanark'' in May. 1905. For about a week she got up every morning and had breakfast With me. Then one morning she said that she was tired and stopped in bed. if tier that she hardly ever had breakfast with me.

The further hearing was adjowned. "