ACTOR AND WIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22820, 30 August 1937, Page 10

ACTOR AND WIFE

MEXICAN MARRIAGE SUIT FOR ANNULMENT COUNSELS' ARGUMENTS ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 20, 5.5 p.m.) LOS ANGELES, August 28 The heaving was continued to-day of the case in which the film actor George Brent is seeking an annulment of his marriage <to Jocelyn Howarth, Australian film actress. Plaintiff claims that tho marriage did not comply with the Mexican law.

■ Brent's attorney in his final argument said that Brent had thought Mexican marriages were legal and was sincere in assuring Miss Howarth on that point. Also he had believed that the legal requirements had been fulfilled. Counsel submitted, however, that the marriage was invalid because tlio following requirements had been violated:—(l) A copy of Ruth Chatterton's divo'ree decree from Brent was not included in the marriage certificate. (2) Noither of the parties intended to be domiciled in Mexico. (3) Neither of the parties had presented a medical certificate testifying to fitness to marry.

The Court undertook to give a decision as to Brent's suit and its verdict is expected to be delivered in a few days.

Miss Howarth's attorney said that since there was no record of the marriage in tho United States the marriage did not oxist in the knowledge of the United States Courts. Brent should go to Mexico if ho wanted it annulled', He was trying to place tho California Court in the position of telling Mexico who could be married there.

Counsel alleged that Brent had tried unsuccessfully to get a Mexican judge to annul the marriage.