DIVORCE SUIT FAILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 14

DIVORCE SUIT FAILS.

WIFE CONTESTS CASE. V. '■ ' r ' LETTERS FROM A NURSE. 1 / __ _ ANONYMOUS INSINUATIONS. On the grouncls of mutual separation '.Frederick Horace Thomas (Mr. Bennett) sought a divorce from Reena Margarotta Thomas (Mr. Terry) in the Supreme Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Herdman. The petition was opposed by respondent, who alleged that the separation was due to petitioner's conduct. Petitioner said he was a postal officer, residing at Hamilton. He was married *n February, 1914. There were two .children, aged 17 and 12. In April, 1928, "'a deed of mutual separation was arranged and he had not lived with his wife since that time. Prior to 1927 his wife had lived with her people at Nelson for six years. He was then living at .•Whangarei and during the first part of the time he pressed his wife to return to 'him. He was not able to obtain a house at AVhangarei, but, his wife was to return as soon as he did so. •Respondent's letters, said petitioner, stated that she would wait for a show or for the races on different occasions. Ultimately she returned to him in November, 1927. '• Series of Disagreements. There was a succession of disputes in the house at Whangarei, said petitioner, and on several daya he returned from .work to find ths house locked. On occasions he wished to chastise his son, but his wife "petted" the boy. When ho made arrangements to move to anothet house his wife refused to go. Petitioner said his wife's father went A 1 to Whangarei and arrangements were "made for a separation. Incompatibility of temperament was the trouble. He had not lived with his wife more than four months in the past nine years. Cross-examined t>y Mr. Terry, petitions said his wife found a letter from another / wonian in his pocket, but there w&; "nothing in it." The letter was from a nurse aged 45 years, who had saved his life on two occasions. He could not account for the tone of it. Judgment Against Petitioner. / // In evidence, Mrs. Thomas said her husband had failed to provide her with n home at Whangarei, and had kept "putting her off." He kept late hours and she received anonymous rings on the telephone asking her if she knew where her husband was. On several occasions petitioner said he was working late at the office, but she was told he was off duty when she A separation a term was arranged after the finding, of a letter from anothei / woman in his pocket. His Honor said, there was no tive but to refuse the petition. Costs weif allowed to respondent.