SOCIETY DIVORCE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13614, 6 December 1907, Page 6

SOCIETY DIVORCE CASE.

DOCTOR AS CO-RESPONDENT.

LETTER TO ENGLISH CRICKETER.

A society divorce case, Wallace v. Wallace, was commenced in Melbourne on November 28, before the Chief Justice and a jury of 12. The petitioner, Charles Dunkley Wallace, sought a dissolution of his marriage with Ruby Bona Wallace, on the grounds of misconduct with Dr. Robert Henry Strong, of Collins-street, Melbourne, who was named' as" co-respondent. The parties were married in March, 1901, at St. Catherine's Church of England, Liverpool, England. Dr. Strong is a son of Alderman Strong, a former Mayor of Melbourne, and was a few years ago a prominent athlete.

It was alleged by the petitioner that on various days of May, June, and July, 1907, respondent misconducted herself with Dr. Strong at the residence of the respondent's sister, Mrs. Vivian Parker, St. Kilda. The allegations of misconduct were denied by the respondent, who filed counter-charges, in which she alleged that between December, 1905, and April, .1907, petitioner misconducted himself with various women. A strong Bar was engaged. Petitioner gave evidence as follows I live on my means. I was married in England in 1901, and on arriving in Australia, the following year I lived at the Esplanade Hotel, St. Kilda. From there I went to Haldon, on St. KUda Road, where my son was born, and he is the only child of the marriage. After living for six months at Haldon we went to stay at Alma Road. At that time I owned the yacht Sayonara, but Mrs. Wallace said it was too small for ladies, and that I was selfish in keeping it. I told her that I would build a bigger boat for her, and I then ordered a larger yacht, which I called the Bona. That was built in Sydney. Up to that time tho relations between my wife and myself had been Very friendly. In that summer my wife spent some time in New Zealand with friends. fhe was away about three months, and during that time ws corresponded. She returned in February, 1903, and brought back with her a friend. After her return we did not get on quite so well as before. Mrs. Wallace was not so affectionate, and she went out more frequently. A nurse had to look after our child and home. Her friend went bade to New Zealand in August, 1903. When she had left I found a letter, which I afterwards returned to "Mrs. Wallace.' 1 found it in her writing pad, where I was searching for some notepaper. I saw "My Darling Kiddie" written on • the outside of the paper, and I then read the letter. It was, I believe, afterwards destroyed. It was signed either Cecil" or " Cecil Hawkins." Hawkins is a young man ho lived in Christehurch. When I found tho letter I waited until Mrs. Wallace returned, and I said to her, "' I went to your desk to get a piece of notepaper, and I found this letter." I said, "Take it and destroy it, or I shall use it against you." I don't remember all that was said. I was | ton angry. Up to that time I had been 1 allowing my wife £250 per annum to clothe herself and the child. On her return from New Zealand I increased it to £300. That was before I discovered the letter. In October, 1903, I went to Sydney with Mrs. Wallace and a lady friend. The child did not go with us, as' Mrs. Wallace would not take him. We stayed at the Australia Hotel until about New Year, 1904. Whilst staying at the Australia we met L. C. Braund, a professional cricketer in the English cricket • team. My wife -saw a good deal of. him, and I told her that I knew Braund was no good, and that she should not knock about with him. I said to her, " You are only making a laughing-stock of me, in front of everybody in the hotel." ; She replied that Braund was'a, gentleman, and that she did not believe what I said. , I then told my wife that Braund had shown me letters he had received from certain undesirable women in Sydney. She said she did not believe it, as' he was a gentleman. On several other occasions I had to spouk to her. When the cricketers- were goirg to Melbourne I found MVs. Wallace in her bedroom crying. She asked me to allow her to: go to Melbourne to see this child. I told her that as she had stayed away, from the - child so long that, another, week' would not matter. I added, "You only want to go to Melbourne after Braund." She replied that she did not. I argued with her aoout Braund, and went on my bended knees to her, and asked her to have nothing more to do with him. , She threw her head back and laughed, saying, " A nice sort of mail you are to admit that you can't keep yovr wife to yourself. Why' the devil don't you get another one, and not come worrying me?" A fortnight later Mrs. Wallace wontback to Melbourne by train. I nrjugbt the boat around. The- English cricketers were then in Tasmania, but shortly afterwards they came to Melbourne. ■ When they returned I told ray wife she was still carrying. on with Braund. I told her she was meeting him, and I begged her Hot to do so. She said he was a gentleman,-and I was a cad. I saw her meet Braund. .It was on a Saturday morning, about February, 1904, There was a cricket match at the Melbourne Ground that day. About that time I found a letter in the wastepaper basket in Mrs. Wallace's room. It' was torn, but I pieced it together. It was dated February 11, 1994, and rend;as JCilows:"My darling old Leu,—\V«li. dear, guess vou are just arriving at the Australia. 1 wonder if you have though? of your old kiddie once since yesterday? I hope so, Len. Well, darling, lots haVe happened since you loft last night. There was a lug row, and don't-bo surprised if you yrt word at any time that I leave by the Sonoma on the 22ud of this month for New York. Poor little, nurse cried all night. I was so sorrv for her." I said to Mrs. Wallace, " You have been writing to Braund." She said she had not, and addei, "Ii I did write, I didn't post it. Did you find anything else? We were talking about it one morning, and she said I was a mean sneak going to the waste-paper basket. I said, " Well, so that I won't be a mean sneak, I'm going to your writing pad, to see if I can find anything more." I found a piece of blotting paper, and taking it to the mirror, I read ; it. It was in my wife's handwriting. ' ! Mr. Bryant: Can you read anything there? I Witness (examining the pad): Yes, it reads: " Letter to-morrow. I hope it comers;. good-bye, sweetheart, good luck, and be good. " Always your loving Kiddie." Then there is a blank, and the following words —" I lovo you; anyone would. I don't care who knows it.—-Will Lawson, Esq." j Witness, continuing, said: Mrs. Wallace was present when I found the letter. Lawson was in Sydney when we went there. I purchased " Lanark" in 1904 at Mrs. Wallace's request. She said if I would buy it she would get up early every morning and have breakfast with me. She said she would look after the greenhouse herself, and would not go into town so much. I then thought all would be happy again. We went to live at " Lanark" in May, 1905. For about a week she got up every morning and had breakfast with me. Then one morning she. said she was tired, and stopped in bed. After that she hardly ever had breakfast with me. ' .. ■

The further hearing was adjourned.