PETITIONER’S SUICIDE

Northern Advocate, 7 November 1932, Page 8

PETITIONER’S SUICIDE

DIVORCE CASE DRAMA. “ACTION DIES WITH PERSON.-’ .1 PRY DISC HARPED. (Special to ‘'Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, Saturday. A tragic climax brought to a sudden elose the defended divorce action of Holmes v. Holmes and Horne, which was opened in the Supreme Court yesterday, before Air .Justice Smith and a jury.

Last night the petitioner, Frederick Holme.-,, bootinaker, aged ”m, was observed by his landlady to be in a depressed condition. 'Phis morning his body was found in a seated position in his room, his -head bowed over a gas ring. Life had evidently been ex-

tinct. for some hours. The case was one in which Holmes petitioned for a divorce against Frances May Holmes, a man named C. William Horne, a seaman, being named as co-respondent. The hearing was adjourned until this morning. The Court was due Jo resume this morning at 10 o’clock, and judge, counsel and jury assembled. In view of the exceptional circumstances which had arisen the case was not reopened, but the three barristers concerned (Mr F. A. Singer, for petitioner, Mr Allan Moody, for Mrs Holmes, and M> V. K. Meredith, for the co-respondent) conferred with Mr Justice .Smith in his chambers/ His Honour directed that the registrar should nole on the papers of the case the fact and the date of petitioner’s dea i h.

Tin* legal position in such a case is

that, being a persunal action, tlie action f‘dies with the person.” The case ended accordingly. The jury received their fees for a. halfda v*s service.

The iiKpiest was opened this morning before Mr W. I,’. Me Kean, 8.M., and was adjourned alter evidence of identification had been taken, lieceased lived at -••. Maidstone Street. Newton. The police report submitted to the coroner stated that deceased was a married man living - apart from his wife. The had been depressed dining the past few weeks owing io the divorce* proceedings. He was in constant employment with a city firm of boot manufacturers. He was last seen alive at last night by his landlady, who noticed that Holmes appeared depressed. The body was found this morning as slated. Tin* intpiesl was* adjourned sine die.