DIVORCE AND DAMAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 13

DIVORCE AND DAMAGES.

SUIT AGAINST COUSIN. SUM OF £3OO AWARDED. HOME AND CHILDREN LEFT. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CIIKISTCH URC H. Tuesday. ilow a man alienated the affections of his cousin's wife, causing her to desert her home and children, was told in the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Adams and a jury of 12, in a petition for divorce and damages. The jury awarded the husband £3OO damages against h'.s cousin. The action for divorce was brought by George Edmund Collett, railway employee, of Alma Street, St. Kilda, Dunedin, the respondent being Evelyn Collett, of Christcliurch, and the co respondent Alfred Frederick Welsh, engineer, of Christcliurch. The petitioner, who was represented by Mr. J. R. Sinclair, of Dunedin, claimed £SOO damages from the co-respondent. There was no appearance of the respondent or the co-respondent. The jury was empanelled simply to assess damages, if any, in the event of tho divorce being granted. Counsel stated that Collett and his wife, who were married in 1919, lived together happily until Welsh appeared on the scene. The couple with their four young children were then living in Christchurch. Later the Colletts went to live in Dunedin, and had been there only a short time when Mrs. Collett left petitioner to return to Christchurch, where she was found living with co-respondent. The Judge granted a decree nisi and the jury returned damages at £3OO, judgment being entered accordingly against the co-respondent.