MUSIC HALL DIVORCE SUIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15056, 27 July 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

MUSIC HALL DIVORCE SUIT

MR. O'GORMAN AND HIS WIFE.

OBJECTION TO STAGE DISPLAYS. The matrimonial affairs of Mr. Joe O'Gorman, the well-known comedian, and "his wife, Mr». Maria. Irina O'Gornian, known on the. stage as Miss Irma Lorraine, arc now engaging the attention of the Divorce Court.

Mr. O'Gorman petitioned for the dissolution of his marriage, alleging misconduct on tho part of his wife with three corespondents—Mr. Edwin Grant Phillips, Mr. Henry Goldberg (a Strand dentist), and Baron Axel Eric Von Boris. Mrs. O'Gorman denied the alleged misconduct, and said alternatively that if sho bad been guilty her husband's conduct conduced to it.

Mrs. O'Gorman further alleged that her husband had himself been guilty of misconduct, and on that ground and because of alleged cruelty on his part, she sought a dissolution of the marriage on her own behalf. Mr. O'Gorman denied his wife's allegations, and the co-respondents denied tho allegations against them.

Mr. Thomas, in opening the husband's case, said the marriage took place on May 24, 1909. at the Registrar's Office, Marylebone. Mr. O'Gorman had been a widower, with two sons and a daughter, and Mrs. O'Gorman was then known as Irma Lorraine, she having been on. the music hall stage appearing in acts or scones in which she posed in living pictures in somewhat scanty attire. In deference to her husband's wish she promised to give up acting, but shortly after the marriage she expressed determination to go back to the music hall stage, apparently finding the quiet of domestic life too severe. "'< A Degrading Act." On August 4 Mr. O'Gorman wrote his wife: — " My Dear Wife Irma,-~-I am now moat anxiously awaiting to have your assurance that you aro not going to break your most solemn promise you gave me prior to our marriage, by working that most degrading act, which you know I abhor. . . . It is up to you now to prove yourself a, woman and a wife." j

Mrs. 'O'Gonnan wrote in reply: — "I feel very bitter against you. . . • You have never been a husband to me. Yon have never treated mens such, and never supported me. ... Now lam rcovoring from the most terrible and unhappy part of my life, you want to stop mo working. . - : You may take it from me there is nothing to strike at your honour. "What von have ■to be ashamed of is your leaving" roe after a married life of .weeks and turning me out of-,the house. You proved si bad man to leave me then alone. I thank God now what has happened. I had either to go into a madhouse or, what you better deserve, that I forget you. . - - ..'.You. never objected to the 'Summer Dance or Ihe Rock of Ages' or ' The Snake Charmer, which I am now appearing in. v 'Joe, I promise you I will lead a, quiet and decent life, but I beg of you to leave me alone, «so that I can recover my health. I am sure it will be better for you. to do as I Always your wife, Ikka." • Mr. O'Gorman wired after this: '." Your letter amazes me. I can and will support yon. You most not appear to your and my shame in these nude and 'semi-nude characters.— from your husband, Joe." Music Hall Scene Altered. : Later Mr. O'Gorman called on hia wife, and tried to persuade her not to go on with the stage, and finally she promised to add more clothing in her act. Ob September 20, 1909, the husband wrote: " Now, mein Mitze, is it not heartbreaking the. way we passed out last day together? ... I often wish this would change. We are not like man and wife at all. God knows where it will end. I . do love my wife." >. , On October 1 the wife wrote her husband : \

"My Darling Boy,—Have received your letter." ... I miss you very much indeed, and I feel very unhappy without yon. Do you love-me, eh? Good-bye, my sweetie." Love from your good girl.— Always Mitze." In November, when her husband was lying ill at Brixton, Mrs. O'Gorman wrote: '•'.;

"Let me tell you quite calm and considered. You undoubtedly like it better to be away from me. I have tried my best, but 1 see you belong to Brixton, and I don't want you any mere. I hope Brixton will keep yoit there. I want to bo free. If you would agree to let me have a divorce I should be thankful, otherwise lam willing to'let you have a divorce. I tan assure you there is no man in the case up till now."

Atmosphere of the Stage.

Counsel read a letter from the co-respon-dent, Phillips, to Mts. O'Gorman, in which he said : •'My Dear' Old Girl,— know, Irma, water cannot run uphill, nor can your hueband ever be anything else but what he is. It was an impossible marriage from the first. ... Do you know, darling. I feel sometimes that contact with these people will spoil you as a woman. No : doubt there are good people amongst the music hall profession, but I'm afraid most of them are not what are known as ladies > and gentlemen. . . . It is this contact with these gross people that I imagine will spoil you, so you can imagine my feelings when I know you are free from, that horrible man (the'htwband). . . . Now , I hope I shall, get a letter every •, week. If you knew how I long for a letter from you. ■■> Good-bye, my darling, my own dearest, sweetest Irma." 1 Counsel mid that ' Mrs. O'Gormari was aJjso in correspondence with, if not seeing J him, the co-respondent Von Boris, and one / night Mr. O'Gorman saw his wife at a German club near Leicester Square in the company of Von Boris. He spoke to her, and she told him he was a titled person who was . going to give her a motor-car worth £1000. Observing the man in the club with bin hand upon Mrs. O'Gorman's shoulder. Mr. O'Gorman struck him in the face. The evidence would show that Baron Von Boris stayed with her at Cardiff and Swansea.

Mr. Joseph O'Gorman. gave evidence in support of hi« counsel's statement. Ho said tho jewellery ho objected to his wife wearing had been given to her by the corespondent Phillips. What he " objected to in his wife's stage performance was that in full view of all the limelight and stage bands she undressed behind the scenes.

The President: I see in a letter that .Mrs. O'Gorman sends her husband forty - seven kisses. (Laughter.)