MARRIAGE FAILURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19879, 24 February 1928, Page 14

MARRIAGE FAILURES.

DIVORCE DAY IN COURT MANY PETITIONS .GRANTED. VARIED REASONS FOR ACTIONS. Tho quarterly undefended divorce list dealt with in the Supreme Court yesterday was considerably smaller than usual. The cases were heard in both Courts, and Mr. Justice Reed and Mr. Justice Blair disposed of some 30 petitions in the course of the morning. The question whether the Judge had jurisdiction over the marriage of a Chinaman who is not naturalised was raised in the case of Ah Lap. "I expect I have jurisdiction, but I would like to be satisfied," said Mr. Justice Reed. * On the ground of adultery Ah Lap (Mr. McLiver) sought dissolution of his marriage with Cecilia Selina Ah Lap, Singh Lin being named as co-respondent. They were married in December, 1925, and had finally separated six months ago. The respondent had been in prison a number of times. A private inquiry agent gave evidence as to her habits of loose ingAfter a brief adjournment Mr. McLiver produced authority to show that His Honor had jurisdiction, and a decree nisi was granted. A Speedy Separation. A decree nisi to be made absolute in three months was granted to Olga Elizabeth Ifwerson (Mr. McLiver) against Karl Donald Ifwerson. They were married in April, 1924. and in October, 1924, they entered into a deed of separation. Evidence was given that the parties had not lived together since. A marriage solemnised nearly 32. years ago, in October, 1896, was dissolved on the petition of Edith Esther Buchanan (%. McKay), against Harry Buchanan. The parties entered into an agreement of separation in February, 1916, and had lived apart ever since. "It seems remarkable to me that the wife is prepared to leave these children between heaven and earth, as it were, without proper arrrangements being made for them," commented Mr. Justice Blair in connection with the petition of Elizabeth Ethel Twidle (Mr. Matthews), for a dissolution of her marriage with Alexander Radcliffe Roy Twidle, on the grounds of three years' mutual separation and constructive desertion. Mrs. Twidle said she was married at Hikurangi in 1915, and there were three children. On his return from the military camp in 1918 her husband seemed unsettled, and in 1921, on account of continued trouble, she brought the children from Whangarei to Auckland. After a few weeks her husband ceased to send her money and she had to work to support herself. In 1922 the children were given into the care of her mother-in-law, with whom she was still friendly, and she was content that they should continue to be cared for under that arrangement. A decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, was granted. Allegations Against Husband. Applying for a dissolution of her marriage with Frederick Nicholas Lindblom on the ground of desertion, Hilda Lindblom (Mr. Matthews) said trouble had started four months after the wedding at Hamilton in 1902. Her husband had since been in prison several times, and showed a preference for other women. On one occasion she had obtained a separation order on the ground of cruelty. Her husband had admitted living with another woman, Ruby Spencer. She believed her husband now went under the name of Lind, and was living in the same house as Spencer in Newton Road. In granting a decree nisi, to be made abso® lute in three months, Mr. Justice Blair gave the custody of the only child to the petitioner. "We Jived quite contentedly until 1920, but then I had trouble with my wife over the attention she paid to other men," said John Henry Crowhurst (Mr. Matthews), who petitioned for a dissolution of his marriage with Annie Crowhurst on the ground of desertion. Petitioner said he was married in 1902, and there were four children. When the Railway Department transferred him from Mercer to Auckland in 1920 his wife declined to accompany him. He hud kept the home at Mercer going for a year after he came to Auckland, but his wife's attitude did not change, bo he. brought the children to Auckland. His wife had not since visited them. A decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, was granted. Clergyman as Mediator. Expressing a doubt whether the evidence had been carried far enough, Mr. Justice Blair intimated he would give further consideration to the petition of Annie Kate Morrison (Mr. Matthews), who alleged adultery on the part of George Francis Morrison. The petitioner said she was married in 1923, and subsequently went to live at Gisborue. When she returned to Auckland to seek medical attention, her 'husband had written refusing to send her money, and had made reference to his attachment to another woman. Her husband had been arrested on a charge of failing to maintain her. There were no children. How even the good offices of a clergyman had failed to effect a reconciliation between a husband and wife with a family of six was told when Henry Apploton (Mr. Dickson) petitioned for a dissolution of his marriage with Alice Langdon Appleton on the ground of adultery and cited Jack Giles as co-respon-dent. Petitioner said he was married in 1908 and his wife left him last August. He had ascertained she had gone with Giles to Tryphena Bay and she refused to return. A decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, was granted. Gharges of unfaithfulness against Charles William Green were made by his wife, Philomel L. L. Green (Mr. Conlan), who sought dissolution of their marriage, which took place in 1923. Petitionei said she began to suspect her husband in March, 1926, and had reason to believe he stayed at Hamilton with a single weman. After evidence had been heard a decree nisi was granted and alimony of £2 a week allowed. New Arrivals in Country.

In the petition of Robert McDowell (Mh Wobb) against Ellen Elizabeth Mc Dowell, on the ground of adultery, Harolc. Kuhne was named as co-respon-dent. The marriage took place in 1923 and there were two children. The misconduct was alleged to have taken place in 192b, and it was statod the wife had admitted the offence. After the mother of the petitioner had given evidence the case was adjourned for further evidence. On the ground of habitual drunk&iness and cruelty, Harriet Hendei'son (Mr. Dickson) was granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, in her petition against Melville Henderson. Married in Lancashire in 1918, the parties later went to Canada, coming to Ne.w Zealand with their family of three children almost a year ago. Her husband

had been an habitual drunkard since 1919, Mrs. Henderson said. He was lazy and, although she had personally secured employment for him in several positions, he was invariably dismissed and she had had to seek assistance from various charities in Canada. He had also ill-used her and tho children. On one occasion he had threatened her with a knife and , on another had attempted to strangle her. The petition of Leslie James Rouse (Mr. Hall) for dissolution of his marriage with Bertha Helen Rouse was granted on the ground of mutual separation. The marriage took place in 1924 and the parties" agreed to separate in December of the same year. Mutual separation was also successfully pleaded in trie case of John William 1' ai-r-oner (Mr. Williamson) against Jean R. McK. Falconer. They were married in Dunedin in October, 1919, and entered into a deed of separation in 1924. A decree nisi Was granted. Period of Separation. Desertion for more that the statutory period of three years was the ground for granting a decree nisi to Leonard G. L. Howell against Edith Howell. They were married in 1916 and had lived apart since 1923. A decree nisi was granted Agnes Cameron Purdy (Mr. Sullivan) against Leopold A. C. Purdy on the ground of separation for more than three years. They wera married in 1905 and there were three children. On account of a separation order in existence since October, 1924, Mellissa L. W. Selkirk (Mr. McLiver) was granted a decree nisi against Robert Henry Selkirk. The petitioner was granted interim custody of the child. Alfred Georgo Cami>ny (Mr. Blomfield). who was married to Clara Campny in 1920 and who had been separated from her since November, 1924, was granted a decree nisi on that account. On the ground of desertion Annie Elizabeth Cowan (Mr. Huband) was granted a decree nisi against Walter Cowan. The parties « r ere married in October, 1907, and respondent left petitioner in 1924. The petition of Ernest William Tong, builder, of Wellington (Mr. Jordan), for dissolution of his marriage with Martha Tong, from whom he had been separated since December, 1924, was granted. They were married in 1913 and there were three children.