MARITAL BOND

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1925, Page 5

MARITAL BOND

A REMARKABLE CASE. COUNT CAUGHT UNAWARES. ' (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. There was an extraordinary case in the Divorce Court in which an Italian, Count Jerome Valier, sought a decree of nullity of a registry office marriage in 1916 to Maisie Davis, who counter petitioned on the grounds of Valier's misconduct with the Marehesi Balbt, whom Valier maried in 1922.

Sir Marshall Hall, K.C., stated th&t Valier belonged to a notable fifteenth century family. He was left without parents in infancy. He found on wining of age that his patrimony had been dissipated, so he came to England. At a West End club Maisie Davis suggested the marriage. She told him that it was merely a form. She obtained a license and they were tmarried, she buying the ring and paying all expenses. Later she said: "You ean get a divorce whenever you like."

They had only met three times sine© the marriage, which was never consummated. Valier regarded the ceremony as akin to the Italian custom of bethrothal. He subsequently found that tlie marriage was invalid in Italy because it was not registered there, SO' he wrote to Maisie Davis saying that he was determined to regain his frqodom. She had gone to America. Later she intimated that she had obtained a decree nisi and Valier married the Marchioness Balbi, upon which an old family feud was stirred up. He was charged with bigamy, but the action was suspended pending the present ease. When Valier was signing tie, marriage certificate he never intended marrying Maisie Davis, who asked him to keep it secret. Mr Justice Merrivale said he was convinced that the Count did not appreciate the nature of the ceremony, therefore he was entitled to a nullity, degree. The counter petition was dismissed, but he granted Maisie David her costs. —A. and N.Z.