EIGHT DIVORCE SUITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 12

EIGHT DIVORCE SUITS.

A WIFE'S LONG HOLIDAY

NO TRACE DISCOVERED'!).

DECREE NISI GRANTED.

A number of undefended divorce cases were dealt with by Mr. Justice Stringer in the Supremo Court yesterday. In each case a decree nisi was granted.

Unusual features were associated with the petition of William Henry Stevens (Mr. Luxford), who sought a dissolution' of marriage with Mabel Bestivick Stevens' on the ground of desertion. Petitioner, a farmer, at Waipu, said the marriage took place in May, 1917, at Remuera, and there were no children. He had known respondent for a long time beforo marriage. On April 13,- 1920, respondent left Waipu for a holiday on account of her health. The same evening petitioner received a communication from her, but since then had had no letter. He had not seen her since, nor did lie know anything of her. Her father had gono on one occasion to Christchurch in an endeavour to trace her. Petitioner knew of no reason why she had deserted him.

Misconduct was the ground on which Horace William Oscar Dixon (Mr. Hogg) sought a divorce from Mary Mabel Dixon (Mr. Sullivan). A defence which had been filed was withdrawn. Petitioner said ho was married in March, 1918. Last June he had suspicions of his wife iu connection with a man named John McCarthy. As a result of inquiries ho visited a house in Bright Street, and found his wife in a room with co-respond-ent. When accused of misconduct, his wifo did not deny it." A private inquiry agent said respondent ana co-respondent were living at the house as Mr. and Mrs.' Dixon.

Unfaithful Husband. Lillian Hopkins Fleck (Mr. Hoimden) petitioned for divorce from James Baxter Fleck on thp grou/tt of misconduct. Petitioner said the marriage took place in 1903, at Warwick, England, and there was one child. She had received information that her husband had committed adultery in Auckland. Corroborative evidence of misconduct at a Newmarket hotel was given. Misconduct was the ground on which Mabel Florence Christina Wheaton (Mr. Hogg) sought release from Alfred Edward Wheaton. Petitioner said she was married in 1909. Being suspicious of respondent's relations with another woman she watched him, and employed a private inquiry agent. Petitioner described what she saw on two occasions when she was watching her husband at a vacant section in Biclimond Avenue. Evidence of misconduct was given by the private inquiry agent. Alice McLaren (Mr. Hubble) was granted a decree against William Bobert McLaren, on the ground of misconduct. Petitioner stated the marriage took place in 1908. Her husband left her in 1922 and from what she was told she came to the conclusion lie had misconducted himself. He had given her an admission of' adultery, but had refused to name the woman concerned. Cases ol Separation. Having been separated for more than three years, Jessie May Bodley (Mr. T. Oliphant) petitioned for a divorce from Henry Bodiey (Mr. R. P. Hunt). Petitioner said the marriage took' place in 1912, and there were. two children. Tho parties agreeij to separate early in 1321, and later a deed of separation : was entered into. They had not lived together since. Mr. Hunt said that pending hearing of the petition for alimony respondent was prepared to pay £3 15s a week maintenance, as in the past. Separation since August, 1921, was the basis of the petition of Florence Thompson (Mr. Hogg), against Andrew John Thompson. Tho marriage took place at Waihj in 1907, and there were five surviving children. Petitioner said her husband had remarked: " I want to get married as soon as the divorce is over." To this His Honor replied: "It looks as though you wanted to get married again." Having been separated by verbal agreement since 1918, Marion Charlotte Dowd Griffin (Mr. Hogg) sought dissolution of her marriage with Reginald James Griffin. Petitioner said the marriage, which took place in 1915, had been marked bv frequent disagreements. The understanding at the time of separation was that she should keep the one child of the marriage and go to work, and not ask for maintenance. In 1918, when petitioner was ill, she allowed the boy to go to respondent. His Honor, i.i granting a decree, left it to the (.-.tic's to arrange for the wife to have liable access to tho child.