UNHAPPY MARRIAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13523, 22 August 1907, Page 7

UNHAPPY MARRIAGES.

§■ PROCEEDINGS IN DIVORCE. ¥' A HALF-BROTHER'S MISCONDUCT. 11' At the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, m lit. Justice Donniston heard two undefendi|" «1 divorce discs. Wi The first ease taken was to.it in which a .•/•■ farmer named Edward Vincent Walters If;, petitioned for a dissolution of his marring", with Elizabeth Walters, on the 'ground of ; j : her misconduct with the petitioner's half- §'' brother, Thomas Walters. Mr. F. E. ! [fount?, K.C., and Mr. McLean appeared 1 for the petition-

Petitioner stated that ho was married to respondent it i"'" registrar's office, Auckland, "it August 7. 1902. They went to live at h'Mi. On February 12 of this vcar, while, petitioner was in bed, he was seized with pain.*, and decided to go outside. Trior i" this lie had heard his wife go outside with a bucket. On getting out into the open air witness noticed someone coining through the fence with a lantern. • Petitioner was about to go in again, when he was seized with another attack, and he remained where he was. He then noticed the light go out, and on going over to see what was the matter discovered respondent and co-respondent misbehaving themselves. Co-respondent ran away, but hie came back, and said he was very sorry he had carried on in the way he had, and he requested petitioner not to tell anyone. Petitioner ordered him off the premises, but he came back next morning and confessed to misconduct. Respondent went to live with corespondent in a. hut sonic distance away, and had been living there ever since. There were throe children of the marriage. Goo. Biddick, a storekeeper, residing at Awhitu, gave evidence as to serving respondent and co-respondent with notice of the proceedings. They were then living in a but together in the Pollock settlement. Edwin Walters, brother of the petitioner, gave evidence as to the confession made by co-respondent to petitioner on the morning of February 13. His Honor granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute at the expiration of thro <nonths. Costs were allowed on the lowest •cule.

A PECULIAR CASK. Arthur William Newman Cottle, a tall man, with a long black beard, also prayed for a divorce from his wife, Amelia Cottle, on the ground of her misconduct with a man named William Rots. Mr. Killen, of Whangarci, appeared for the petitioner. Mr. Killen stated that the circumstances were somewhat peculiar. The respondent, Vefore her marriage, had a child to co-re-spondent, and was much attached to him. Cottle was very fond of her. but she did not return his affection, and refused to marry him when he asked her to. Cottle then'told her to go to Ross, and ask him to marry her, and- said that if lie did not do so within a week then he (Cottle) would renew his suit. Ross refused to marry the girl, who then yielded to Cottle's entreaties, and became his wife. Their domestic bliss, however, only lasted a short time, fcs respondent'cleared out, and returned to Ross, and had been living with him ever since. The petitioner stated that he was married to respondent on April 23, 1904. and j'ved with her in the Whangarei district until June 19 of the same year, when she cleared out, and "went to live with corespondent. He met her afterwards, and isked her to return, but she refused. Mr. Killen: What reason did she give? Petitioner: She stated that she liked Ross better than me. Evidence was given showing that in March, 1905, respondent gave birth to a child. ' . His Honor stated that while he was satisfled as to the misconduct of respondent, he had no direct evidence against co-respon-dent. Mr. .Killen then called respondent, who svus-in attendance. His Honor warned her that she was not compelled to give evidence, but she signified her willingness to do so, and made the 'jeeossarv admissions. His Honor granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute after the expiration of three months, and on account of the distance which the petitioner had to come allowed costs on the highest scale.