17 AND 21.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

17 AND 21.

ROY- AX D 01R1. .MA li IA (.5 E.

' It is a shameful story," exclaimed Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane in the Divorce Court, when Mr. Endderbey Gordon Anderson. formerly a lieutenant in the Army Service Corps, applied for a divorce. Mr. Anderson and his wife were lfiarrieil in May. 1509, at the Westminster Registrar's Office. He was just 21 years old and she was 17, and they had only been acquainted for three weeks.

"She said she was on the stage." said Mr. ]•" ramp Urn, who appeared for the husband, "and that- she was living in Soho because she had quarrelled with her parents. He believed her story, and made her an allowance of £5 a month. She returned to her parents, and he was stationed at- Net- ley. " In April last she visited him at Southampton, and Mid she had been to Paris with friends. lie left the army, and went to live with her and her mother at Whitstable.

" The wife expressed dissatisfaction with the life she was living, and finally all three decided to go to Tasmania together. They came to town in June to do some flopping, and when they reached Victoria Mrs. Anderson disappeared. She sent for her clothes some days lat«jr, and haw-- since been seen a', various piao*s in the West Snd."

"\oti wt'-vf* married after three weeks'..equaintanoe.' v/.i the judge,. ,r> Mr. Anderson —"a man 21 and a. girl of 17! How .could vcv *.::p»..ct anything of such a marriage? Howe ..«r, the law ai'ows it at prestnt Ave you aiio-.ve-d to marry in, inc. army 'at 21 ?

"I believe to.'' roplivxl .Mr. Anderson. "She was to live with hoi> parents until I finished my offk-ei.*' course in the following December."' " Then," A said the judge, '' this child of 'Y would have to go drift .'from May to December?-" ' " 'VSije piomisejl to live at home," Mr. Anderson protested. "It is ashayieful story." t»he judge retorted. Mr. Anderson was granted a divorce.