Ladders At Bedroom

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 236, 6 October 1936, Page 3

Ladders At Bedroom

DIVORCE JUDGE’S DISAPPROVAL

Strong criticism of what he described as "this fantastic business of putting up ladders against the bedrom window," was made by Mr Justice Swift during tho hearing of a divorco ease at Birmingham Assizes.

The petitioner, Frederick Albert Houghton, of Bushmoro road, Birmingham, whose case w : as that his wife had stayed at a houso in. Selly Park, BirmingUara, with the correspondent, Stanley Hobson Hardy, -was granted a decree nisi.

When Mr K. L. Finnemore asked for costs, the Judge said: ‘‘Certainly not. Not one farthing costs. I thoroughly disapprove of the petitioner and his inquiry agent." During the hearing of the case, Mr Justice Swift remarked:

"Tho light was turned on at 12 o’clock, the curtains drawn, leaving a gap so that anybody could sec, and then somebody fetching a ladder at 3 o’clock in the morning, it was put up to the window and somebody went up it. “Was it arranged!" Mr Finnemore: Certainly not, my lord. The Judge: There seems to have been some sort of collusion between those in tho house and those outside.

On being told that there "were two ladders used and four people keeping observation, the Judge said: "A regular party —two ladders, men hurrying about carrying them and then running up them.’’