A CURIOUS CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8812, 27 February 1892, Page 5

A CURIOUS CASE.

[Br TELEGRAPH. — PKKSS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. A case with soma rather unusual features came before Mr. Graham, R. M., at the Resident Magistrate's Court, to-day. Mrs. Amelia Johnston, apparently more than 30 years of age, appeared in support of a summons which she had obtained, calling on Robert Sutherland, described as stationholder, at Ohonga, Castle Point, to pay £1213 10s, accrued arrears on an order made in 1882 by the late Mr. trdcastle, R.M., at Wanganui. Plaintiffs statement was that late in tlio seventies she married Sutherland, who deserted her after she had borne him two boys. In ISS'2 she put her case before Mr. Hardcastle, and Sutherland was ordered to pay 5s per week for each child. Home time afterwards she was informed that Sutherland was dead, and in full belief that such was the case, she contracted a marriage with a man named Johnston, who has since died. A few weeks ago she learned that her first husband was still living, and thereupon she began the present proceedings. Mrs. Johnston further stated that prior to being informed that Sutherland was dead sho took steps to obtain a divorce from him. The citation was actually served, but proceedings were abandoned simply because she understood Sutherland had died, but, strange to say, while such action was still in an initiatory state in the Supreme Court, the Police Court officials were refusing to receive money from Sutherland pending the decision "of the petition for divorce. Defendant's solicitor applied for an adjournment of the case, in order to enablo him to produce certain witnesses who might refute Mrs. Johnston's statement. The application was granted.