A NOVELIST'S DIVORCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14225, 23 November 1909, Page 7

A NOVELIST'S DIVORCE.

J. M. BARRIE'S PETITION.

WIFE'S INFIDELITY.

[from our own correspondent.]

London, October 15. Much sympathy is felt for the popular Scottish author and playwright, J. M. Barrie, in his divorce proceedings. The case came on in the divorce division on Wednesday before Sir John Bigham (president) in the form of a husband's petition. Mrs. Barrie was the popular actress, Mary Ansell, who appeared in the petitioner's early play, "Walker, London." The petition alleged misconduct with Gilbert Cannan.

In opening the case, Mr. Barnard said that petitioner was married to respondent on July 19, 1894, in Scotland. There were no children. They lived happily together. Eighteen months ago petitioner became acquainted with co-respondent, who from time to time visited the house, and became the friend of Mr. and Mrs. Barrie. He then related the circumstances leading up to. the divorce proceedings.

Petitioner, who appeared distressed, was then called.

Mr. Barnard: When did you make the acquaintance of Mr. Can nan?— months ago or a little more. He came to my house as secretary of a little committee. It was in connection with the Censorship Committee about which there has been so much talk in tho press. He became on friendly terms with both you and your wife? Yes. In November, 1908, Mr. Cannan was having his rooms redecorated? He came to our cottage at Farnham for two or three weeks.

While he was there your wife went down there?— Yes.

Did she go alone or with friends?— ladv friends, as I believe. How often did she go?— or three times.

Continuing, petitioner said that he and his wife were staying at the cottage in July of this year. The servants there were Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, the gardener and his wife, On July 28 Mr. Hunt made a communication to him as to what' had passed in the previous November. Mr. Barnard : What did you —On the same day I went to London and telegraphed to my wife to meet me. She was going to come down that afternoon, but I telegraphed to her to wait until she had seen me.

Did Mr. Hunt's communication refer to two occasions in November? — referred to one occasion only. What did-jhe tell yon?—He said his wife took up tea in the morning to Mr. Cannan, and he was not in his room. She then went with tea to my wife's room, and knocked at the door, but got no answer. Presently she heard my wife say, " Gilbert, Gilbert !*"

Did you tell your wife what Mr. Hunt had said?l told her and she said, "It is all quite true." I said, "If it is quite true I must go and see Sir George Lewis about it."

Did you and your wife both see him?— Yes.

What took place at the interview?My wife said it was the only time it had ever taken place, and they had both been in a state about it. I said, "If you will come back I will forgive you. No one would ever know anything about it." She said it would be all pretence. I should be thinking of her all the time, but he was the only person in the world to her.

The President: She meant that she was in love with him?— She said it would bo a much more ignoble thing to go back to me in those circumstances.

Mr. Barnard: Did you then offer to separate by deed if 6he would promise to have nothing more to do with him? Yes. And she refused? Yes.

Mrs. Hunt, employed at petitioner's cottage,at. Farnham, said that in November last Mr. Cannan came with Mrs. Barrie to the cottage. There was sometimes other people in the cottage. On one occasion witness took up tea in the morning to co-respondent's room. She knocked three times at the door, but got _no answer. She then went to Mrs. Barrie's room. After she had knocked at the door two or three times she heard Mrs. Barrie saying, "Oh, Gilbert, Gilbert!" She then returned to co-respondent's room and entered it. He was not there, and the bed had not been slept in. She placed the tea in the room. Further questioned by Mr. Barnard, witness said that she went into Mrs. Barrie's room with tea, but she did not see co-respondent. There was a dressingroom opening out of that room, which witness did not go into, but she looked in all the other rooms in the house without finding co-respondent. Mr. Barnard : Have you on other occasions seen Mr. Cannan near Mrs. Barrie's room?— Yes; I have often seen him coming out of her room early in the morning. The President: That is sufficient.

Mr. Barnard: Then there will be a decree nisi, with costs? The President: Yes. , :„