MAHATMAS AND MARRIAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9193, 6 May 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAHATMAS AND MARRIAGE.

In the divorce division of tho London Court of Chancery recently a Mrs. Thomasset petitioned for a judicial separation by reason of tho adultery of her husband, Mr. Theodore Frederick Henry Thomasset, a gentleman of independent means, with a person of the name of Gray. There was no defence.

Mrs. Emma Maria Thomassot, tho petitioner, deposed that she was married to the respondent on June 8, 1876, at Christchurch, Wanstoad. They afterwards lived together at Walthamstow, and there were five children. He was then an indigo and goneral merchant. At the end of 1887 he camo into a fortune of between £30,000 and £40,000, whon he retired from business. She lived happily with him until 1884, when he told her that he had rescued a young lady from suicide, she being in the act of throwing herself off London Bridge" Ho said she was very destitute, and lost her parents, who were very wealthy, and that he hnd taken her home to his lodgings and had her taken care of, Witness did nob hear anything more of her until seven years afterwards, when she was introduced to . her at the I)rury Lane Theatre. She was about 24 or 25 years of age. She was invited -to the house, and stayed for a week. Whilst at her house witness notioed that her husband was familiar with . the girl. Mr. Searle: In whab way 7 Witness t la a way more than I liked to see. Did they read books together, and discuss hypnotism No; he talked of hypnotism. It was always going > on. (Laughter.) t In August, 1890, did ho tell you he bad taken a house at Toignmouth, Devonshire? Yes; ho suggested I should go there with this young lady. I said I would rather nob, but aftor a time I consented. She stayed'thero all the time we were ab Teignmouth. . . What happened there I notioed. thab his behaviour towards. her was entirely unaccountable. . ;

- Were you disturbed of a night?. Yes; by,her walking in her, sleep and knocking at my door. (Laughtor.) ' This happened several times. She wan a sleep-walker. She .tried to get out of the window, and we had to walk about to prevent her doing so. :'/V: / ... Besides this, dii yo t notice familiarity between them? Yes; I have seen thorn kissing. ' ; When you returned noi<;e do you remember your husband making a remark to you as to your being married to him? Yes ; he said he had been told by some M abating —* , Mr. Justice Barnes: Somewhat? Witnoes: Mahatma. - , Mr. Searle: What did ho say? Witness That the Mahatma had told him that we had been wrongly united. (Laughter.) • i What did you think of that? I thought he was peculiar in the head. (Renewed laughter.) Did you say it was rubbish? I don reember that. A day or two after that he had been to peculiar in the head that I advised him to see a doctor. Ho was ordered to go away for six months. Hi loft op September 9, 1890, with great reluctance. He corresponded with me, and wrote saying that he never intended to return. ; - Thi3 letter waß read, ir which he said that it was "a boyish ignorance of want of character" on her part that led him not to again live with. her. Examination continued: He had never returned to her. An income was paid her for some time, bub it was at last stopped. Mark Hitchcock said that last year he was engaged as groom to Mr. Thomasset, at Souther ton, near Ottery St. Mary, Exeter. A lady other than the petitioner was living with the respondent. Mr. Justice Barnes granted a decree of judicial separation, with costs.