EXTRAORDINARY DIVORCE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13391, 21 January 1907, Page 8

EXTRAORDINARY DIVORCE CASE.

SENSATIONAL DIN( i

[FROM OCR OWN" (.•OURKSI'OXDKXT.]

London, December 15.

(Ink of the most remarkable matrimonial eases ever before the Divorce Court lias come to an unexpected termination in the withdrawal of some very serious charges.

The parties to the suit were: Mr. William Evans,- a young gentleman, 25 years ut age, said to be very well connected and wealthy, and formerly an officer in the 4ih Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, who in 1900 married Mi.-- Lucie Watkins. the daughter of a Staffordshire coachman, who at the time of he) marriage wa.i employed in a milliner's establishment at Hyde, Isle of Wight; Mr. Frank I'riaulx, connected with a well-known Guernsey family, a. wealthy young man, who, owing to delicate health, ha- spent some time farming in South Africa; Mr. Thomas F. Norbury, .secretary of a Stratford-on-Avon brewery company; and Mrs. Daphne Simmonds, who was mentioned as intervener. The. s-uit was a cross-petition for divorce, the husband asking for a decree against his wife on the ground of her alleged misconduct with two co-respondents—Mr. I'riaulx and Mr. Xorbury. Mi-. Evans petitioned for divorce, making a number of foul and odious charges against her husband. She admitted misconduct with Friaulx, but denied it in the case of Norbury. who was dimissed from the suit, no evidence against him biding offered. Fetters written by the unman Evans were read, and proved of the most outrageous nature. At las! her counsel, Mr. Shearman, rose and said that the evidence had taken him -o entirely by .surprise that he must ask for time to consider the position. Tin's was accorded, ami on the Court resuming yesterday Mi. Shearman at once rose and stated that, he wished unreservedly to withdraw all the charges which Mis. Evans had made again.-! tier husband. He had carefully con-idered the huiy'.-_ position in the case, and lie did not intend to otter any evidence. Me thought the judge would understand that after certain evidence, which was put before the Court, both he and the gentlemen who instructed him (Messrs. Lewis and Lewis) were placed in an exceptionally difficult position 'I hey were, taken by surprise bv seme of the evidence, bin had he then declined to contime- the ease he would have had to lake upon himself the responsibility of leaving the lady destitute. Now. however, Mr! Evan- -aid he was prepared to make a email monetary provision for the lady and satisfy lief ro-sts, and he (counsel) iliou«ln she would accept that offer. On behalf o't Mrs Evans lie unreservedly withdrew all charges against the husband, •more particularly one, which 1 will say nothing more about." Mr McCall. K.C., -aid he only wished to say that hi- client had no desire to go back from the offer contained in the letter in which he said he was prepared 10 make his wife an allowance, and was anxious so far as he could to avoid leaving her destitute and thrown on the streets. Mr. Evans asked for an unconditional withdrawal of the charge of cruelty and the more odious charge; and those charge- being unconditionally withdrawn, lie had no objection to what was ordinarily done, and pav the lady'--taxed costs.

Mr. William Kvans, the petitioner then wont into the witness-box again and was asked by Mr. Barnard, K.C., ••'is there'a word of truth in any on.' of those charge*'-" ",- Non<l whatever," "replied Mr. Evans, emphatically.

Mr. Justice liargrave Deane. addressing tin- jury, said ho should first ask thorn to return a verdict in the ca*e as to whether the husband had beoy. guiltv of cruelty to his wife. On thai there had been no" evidence offered. so they would find for him. On the second point no evidence had been put. forward by the wife, "but.' said the judge, "wo have got in Court ,-, series oi book?, picture-, and photographs of such a character that 1 am sure von will be "lad if is not ivece.'sary for me to show them to .von. J hey are so offensive and so di<*"-ii<t-mg that I am more than pleased thev have not got to Ik- produced for your inspection." Mr. hvans had sworn they never belonged to him. and (he jury had seen a certain number ol letters put hi, which would, no doubt satisfy (hem as to low the pictures cam,, to bo brought into Court. There was no evidence that they belonged to the 'husband. i am sure, Rentlemeu," concluded the judge, • it i- a satisfaction to you to know that the ca-e lias come to such a very proper end." The jury having declared that Mr. Evan* was not guilty of any of the charges alleged by Ins wife the judge granted a decree nisi and ordered the wife's costs to bo taxed and paid by the husband. The Judge: I purpose- to order the officer of the Court '" destroy all those bookphotograph , and pictures Mr. M.Cr.ll: Will your lordship suspend that order until the decree is made absolute?

The judge, after some discussion. said ho would have then. ~il sealed up and endowed or'lor wore nor to be opened except by hi

Mr. Barnard (for the husband): Will your J>'J'l»i|» say thai the letters shall be ineluded m thai order'! The .fudge: You moan tin- Watkins letTor.-.

Mr. Barnard : Ye-. The .Titdae: Yes. perhaps (hoy bad all hotter 30 toyetner. MoM of the evidence in ,he case was too utterly foul for publication.