ENGLISH DIVORCE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18964, 11 March 1925, Page 12

ENGLISH DIVORCE CASE.

EX-AUCKLANDER CONCERNED* AN UNDEFENDED SUlT[from Dim OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] ■ LONDON. Jan. 28. Captain Reginald C. Berkeley, pre* viously of Fiji and Auckland, who eama into prominence as the author of the successful comedy, "French. Leave," and later became a member of Parliament, was cited as the co-respondent in a divorcq suit this week. The case was heard b<v» fore Mr. Justice Horridge, and Mr* Thomas Joseph Digby, an engineer, oS Mill House, Bray, was granted a decrea nisi for the dissolution, of his marring® with Clara Hi'degarde Gertrude Digby, whose maiden name was Freeman, on tha ground of her adultery with Captain Bern kelcy. The respondent, and the co-< respondent denied tho allegation, but did not now defend tho suit. Counsel for petitioner said that there waa a claim for damages against the co-rcspondi ent. The petitioner did not desire anw money for himself, but ho would hava liked damages to be settled on the respondent. Captain Berkeley, however,, was not in a position to pay damagjes, and intended, if his wife divorced him„ to marry the respondent. In those circumi stances the claim for damages was with-, drawn. The petitioner, giving evidence, said' he married tho respondent an Juno •!,, 1920, at Bexley Heath. He lived witK her at Bray, and there was one son, who was born in October, 1921. At the timn of his marriage he was a widower. Ho made the acquaintance of the respondent* after she had answered an advertisement for a clerk. They lived very happily together at Mill House and at his house in London. In 1923 the co-respondent, his wife and children caiue to live at a housa on petitioner's estate at Bray. The co-i respondent was then M.P. for one of th» divisions of Nottingham. In April op Mav, 1924. tho respondent asked petitioner; if she could go to Littlestone with tho child. He consented, and he afterwards visited lier there. Petitioner said that he afterwards I'd-* ceived an anonymous letter about tha conduct of tho respondent and the eo-> respondent. On May 16, 1924, he spoko to his wife at Littlestone on the mutter. S*ie became very hysterical, and told hint that slio was in love with tho co-respond-ent, who had asked her to live with hura until his wife divorced him. He consulted his solicitors and had a letter; written to the co-respondent telling him 'to keep away from the respondent. On. j May 23 he went to Littlestone again, and I the" respondent assured him that she had ! not compromised herself with the 1 respondent, and he continued to live with! her. Later he discovered that the respondent and the co-respondent used ta communicate with one another by telephone. On June 20 last the respondent left Littlestone, On July 11 he identified j her at a flat in Observatory Gardens, ; Campden Hill. j Evidence was given that the respondent and the co-respondent, had lived at the | address mentioned. "