"LIKED SOMEBODY ELSE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 2 (Supplement)

"LIKED SOMEBODY ELSE."

GORDON LENNOX DIVORCE.

GUARDS OFFICER. AND.-'WIFE.

•HTOIBAND WHO GREW COLD.

The stoiy of a Duke's son, who, after he had fought in the war, declared that he hated London life and ; refused any longer .to live with ,his wife, was told in a . case in the Court of Session in Edinburgh,", in which Lady Hermiono Franc(W Caroline Gordon Lennox, of Belgrade Square, London, was granted a divorce decree against Lord Esme Charles Gordon Lennox^ The Neuk, Foohaber Morayshire. "' ..;"'. . ; : "' - ''j ? _\ "'-V- -■: j --r-=

I That the ground of action was deserI lion had been stated at a previous headj ing by Mr. Watson, K.C., for petitioner. ■A, counsel he?fl a .watching brief on behalf of respondent. ,■'■- . ■-■ (Rotating how her husband bad become ; estranged from her, lady Gordon Lennox ■ —-who mentioned that she was a daughter of . Baron de Skmsey, and the father of her 1 husband was a son of. the Duke of Richmond and Gordon—said she was married in 1909 at the Guards' Chapel in Louden, her husband being then an officer in " the Scots Guards. There < was one child, Reginald, born in 1810. Her husband went to the front in 1914, was badly wounded and came home in 1915. In the following year she noticed a coldness in his manner towards her. He continued on war service, and in 1917 had leave on two occasions. There was, however, no change in his manner. Hated '' London Life.

"" In 1917, when she and her ; husband were at Monte Carlo, he said ha :did not wish' to live -with her any move. He also said he hated London life, and would ,go jto live with,i his father at Gordon - Castle. He had mot lived maritally with her since. In that - year he went back to !, France, and wfi:? again seriously wounded. When she saw him in hospital in England i he always contrived to have a member of his family, there, ■ end ; she never saw him alone. ':,"■ ; ; ;'■■''>;. ■ "'-.X-\- '

■'' In 1919 he was appointed to the command of the Scots Guards in London. The barracks were about; ten minutes walk away from : Eaten Square. He Raid he would live at Eaton Square, and 'chat he did not ;' want to ; ; see her. .-.- They occupied separate rooms, and there was no conversation between: them, except on absolutely essential matters. ' ; : Ui Mr. Watson: Did you ask him why he was treating you in that : way ?—Yes, and; he said he liked somebody else. .Ho stated t.haii he was -not coming back to mo, ; and the thing , must end. He : told mo that in a letter, but I have not got that letter now." In November, 1919, he went to Scotland, and returned'■ for a time in December. - Since leading the house In. Eaton Square in 1919 my hus-; band never returned to me. 1. '.

« Fond of Another Lady." : Lady Geurnsey, sister of petitioner, and widow of Captain Guernsey/ said her husband was killed in the war. She was, she atoted, with her sister when eho was with her husband at Monto Carlo ■•■ in Marshy 1918..'; She observed that her sister's husband waa vory oold to her and hardly paid her attention. ' ' ' "She told me," witness continued, "he said ho didn't wish to live: any longer with her, and they would separate. He wa» always charming to me,. and to all the rest of his acquaintances. He ; told ma ho wuld not live ' with his wife any mora that they had different tastes; that he had quite decided to go and Jive in Scotland, and that he did not irish to continue, their married life. He raid '■. he was very fond of another lady, and thai j his relations with; the - lady were 1 abso- j lutely blameless." '•'„]„ . '•!' :

The Judge, Lord Asmuore, in delivering judgement, said he was; satisfied; that the Court had jurisdiction with regard lib the domiciling of respondent in Scotland. The evidence, ho thought, was sufficient to ibow that respondent had formed the intention of making his permanent home in Scotland for reasons which were ' conearned with 'hi 3 wife; and ; otherwise, i He was satifeled, that there had been wilful desertion^and, therefore, he gave a decree of divorce for desertion.

Petitioner would have custody of ; the child. •••?; -,' ..';.■ ■•'