MARRIAGES ANNULLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17402, 24 February 1920, Page 6

MARRIAGES ANNULLED.

SEVERAL CASES DECIDED.

ACTIONS %6T' DEFENDED.

MISCONDUCT BY HUSBAND. ■ Several undefended petitions were dealt with at yeeterday's sitting of the Divw* Court, before Mr. Justice Cooper and Mr.

Justice Chapman. N Helen Mary Ann Blucher (Mr. A. Moody) sought a divorci from Andrew Wothmjpoon, Blacker, labctirer, of Auckland, an the ground of misconduct. The petitioner said - she was married in December, 1901, at Devonport. Her busband left with the Expeditionary Forces, returning in October, 1918. Shortly afterwards, in consequence of some letters she found in his possession, she taxed him with having been guilty of misconduct in England. Respondent laughed, and said he had had as good a time in New Zealand before he left. Letters from jtarioos woman were produced. She bad not lived with her husband since his i return. 1 R. A. Singer gave evidence j that respondent had signed an admission of misconduct in England. A decree nisi was granted. j Effect of Keeeot Legislation. j

s. Annie Stewart (Mr. Singer) asked for a r divorce from Peter Thomas Stewart, on i the ground of adultery. She said they i were married in July, 1906. There were 1 two children. .She alleged that in January, 1911, the respondent lived with L another woman. At first she refused to f JWgwe _ bin, but later took him back. > They lived together until August, 1915, when be left as a baker on the troopship > Tofw. When he wtultied to NewZe* i land he had only 4d, and aha gave him 1 money to pay hit board and passage to Foxton. He had not supported her since. Mr. Singer referred to the fact that by ' *»J?** amendment to the Divorce and : Matrimonial Causes Act the period of desertion was altered from five- yearn to i tjuat. After thq respondent's alleiced misconduct in 1911 he went back to live with hit wife, and, in Jaw, the misconduct Wis condoned. By. his desertion of the petitioner in August, 1915, the condonation was cancelled. Counsel gag. gested that His Honor could grant a decree either on the ground of adultery or desertion. His Honor said he would take time to consider the particular case. Two Irriag Husbands. Adeline M. J. S. Irwin (Mr. Prendergaat) asked to be released from her marriage with Ibomaa Irwin on the ground of adultery. She said she was married in ►January, 1911. The respondent went into <*OP in 1915, and the petitioner came to Auckland. Subsequently she heard that tho respondent had" been living with another woman. He told her he would not go back to live with her, and would not give the other woman up. Evidence ** *<> adultery was given, and a decree was granted. . A ft®* nisi was granted is the case i brought by Olga Lurline Pearson (Mr. Zlxnan) against Thomas B. Pearson. Hie ground of the petition waa adultery. Deserted by Husband, Mary Eliiabeth Clifford (Mr. Prender- 1 gwt) applied for the dissolution of her 1 marriage with Harold T. Clifford, on the , ground of desertion. The T*rtiee were i married to March, 1905. The petitioner i [stated that the respondent went out of : town to ww*, returning at each week- i end. This arrangement lasted for six t months, when the respondent disappeared. , Later, petitioner heard ha was in gaol, » and when be came out he said he would d find employment. He did not do so, how- t evw, but disappeared, and the petitioner "~, DO J wen lum since. There wtis one child of the marriage. A decree niiii was granted.

Ken Addicted to Drink. Jews Alira Ramsay (Mr. Singer) <»m----plained that her hueband, Robert Earnuy habitually drink to excess 'and jumbled. They were married at Dunedin in July, 1911, ant he waa dismissed from employment, and they vent to An#trail*. the domestic ooTuTtionc pew wane, and the returned to New Zealand in October, 1913. She had not aeen the respondent since, and* be had not maintained her. There were no children. A decree nisi wu granted. Catherine Agnes Taylor (Mr, SingeiV aid she was married to Henry E. W i Twlor in 1908. Hey lived »t a number of places, constant removals being: canted became the respondent rewatedW lost employment on account «;> his heavy . drinking At times ehe had to sleep ontside the house, tod go without food. Un one occasion when she explained he attacked her with a earring -knife. His Honor granted a decree nisi. s Persistent Cruelty. The ground of the petition brought by Sarah A. Saunders (Mr. Singer) for a divorce from Jctenh Blunders was persistent cruelty. He petitioner said she was married in September. 1895, at Thames, there being fivrn children of the mamajje. At Waihi, in July, 1905, she obtained a separation order from the respondent on the trround of cruelty, but •he had not pen him since the order Was flxantad. Other evidence was given that the petitioner had not lived' with the respondent for six years. A decree nisi was granted, A Hatter of Domicile.

In the case. Clement Rowan (Mr. Ostler) versus Grace Rowan, evidence* in connection with which was heard on Saturday, Mr. Justioe Cooper said he would want a decree nisi. He lad looked into the question of domicile and was satisfied that the petitioner's domicile was New Zealand. He left for Australia. Andy the evidence showed that he i n . tended to return to the Dominion.