CIRCUS MAN'S WEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18497, 6 September 1923, Page 9

CIRCUS MAN'S WEALTH.

AFFAIRS OF PHILIP WIRTH. . WIFE SEEKS ALIMONY. THE ETERNAL TRIANGLE. [FROM OUR owN , 'coimESPOXDEJrr.] ■'■'.<"'■■.. '/k SYDNEY. August 29. The -wealth of Mr. Philip Wirth, .of j" Wirth's Circus, may surprise many people ; in Auckland, where' he is so well known. In the Divorce Court yesterday, Sarah ■ Jane Wirth, who, on August 10, 1922, wan granted a judicial' separation from Philip Wirth, applied to Mr. Acting-Justice Kalston for permanent alimony. "On August 10, 1922," Mrs. Wirth stated in an affidavit, "I obtained a decree for judicial separation against, Philip [ Wirth on the ground of adultery with Alice Maud© Willis. , Before the making of the decree I had been receiving £10 per week as interim alimony, but since then my husband has refused to .make me any allowance for my support. I am entirely without means, , and have to keep my daughter, who is ill, and we depend upon Mr. Wirth for our support. ' "My husband has for many year 3 carried on the business of a circus proprietor in Australia and New Zealand, and from, such business he derives the net income of £10,000 a year. He has a large ! number .of shares ,in . a company which owns the • Hippodrome, Sydney, and the Olympia, Melbourne, , which yields large annual dividends. Ho is also interested in Wirth's. Skating Rink, Melbourne, ana the Saucer Track, Melbourne. ' My husband possesses certain properties from which he receives a large annual income. He has motor-cars and carriages of much value. He owns Louisa Villa, Redfern; Dudley Villa, Redfern; Ocean View, Coogee,; three shops in George Street, city, near Marcus Clark's, all of which are very valuable. He also' has an hotel not far. from Adelaide, which he is supposed to have purchased for the mother of Miss Willis, as well as a farm which he has purchased with his brother. There is also furtner property belonging to hjra. in Adelaide and Brisbane., " Innumerable Diamonds." ; The affidavit continued : " Miss Willis is said to be possessed of innumerable diamonds, which have been purchased for her by my husband, as well as a Cadillac motor-car and various other articles of great value, and Mr. Wirth has practically everything that money can buy. " For . each child, of Miss Willis, of which there are now seven. Mr. .'Wirth has banked" £2000, and has made provision for a 10-roomed house. : * His residence at Coogee is controlled by a big staff, of servants, and is furnished without regard to expense. ''His family lives very sumptuously, and Miss Willis dresses expensively, and entertains largely.: .The. house at Coogee. Ocean View, was furnished by Beard Watson and Co. at a cost of £7000." The affidavit of George Joseph Pasfield, managing , clerk to Messrs. Stephen, Jaques,, and Stephen, solicitors for Philip Wirth, stated -that-it was a term of the agreement between Mr. Wirth and his wife that in case Mrs. Wirth should at any time threaten to take proceedings in divorce for maintenance, divorce, or restitution of conjugal, rights, or interfere with Mr. Wirth,, then jri any such case the annuity, of £312 should be reduced by £100 for every such breach of the agreement. Mr. Philip Wirth left Australia for a business toUr of America'on 7 April 25 last, j and he would be absent for 18 ' months. From conversations he had Had ' with Mr. Philip Wirth. he had been in- . formed that had Mr. Wirth known that it-was Mrs. Wirth's intention to abandon the prayer for dissolution of marriage, he ' would have defended the suit, as in view of the existence of the deed, the terms-of j which he had always complied with, Mrs. Wirth could not have received any benefit ' by, fchfli granting of the decree. h Alimony Payments. I 'The. affidavit further stated that Mr. ; Philip Wirth had -been paying his wife £10 per week: alimony pendente , lite, on the assurance that she would proceed . with the petition for a divorce, arid not for judicial separation. On November 23 last a cheque for £20 was forwarded to , Mrs. Wirth on account of alimony, and , it was agreed to pay .the arrears of. . alimony under the deed at the rate of £6 t per week ?> without prejudice to Mr. Philip ■ Wirth's right to have the amount reduced to £4 per week in accordance''with the , deed. On November 23 last a cheque for £28 was forwarded to Mrs. Wirth, in 1 re- '; spect of arrears; of, alimony, .since then , further amounts had been forwarded. ' <• _ After, argument ;, Mr. Acting- ', Ralston referred the question of the means • of Mr. Philip Wirth and -Mrs: Wirth to the registrar in' divorce, Mr. Saddington, > for inquiry'and report. ,He 'said he did not think- that the form of decree—that ; of judicial reparation in the present case : —made any difference in connection with > the granting of permanent alimony, v..;; 1 The Cjurt' will now have to await the 1 finding of the registrar before the question of Mrs. Wirth's alimonv can be dei . termined. '',:■"'■..'..: ■■'.':-