A DOMESTIC SCANDAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 38

A DOMESTIC SCANDAL.

EXTRAORDINARY REVELATION'S. A SUPREME COURT JUDGE IMPLICATED. MR JUSTICE MARTIN RESIGNS. rSJESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. , The 'rumour mentioned in the "Lyttelton Times’’ to-day has been causing great excitement in town. It is common talk now thqt the persons implicated are Mr Justice Martin and Mrs Simms, wife of a- Christchurch merchant. A. few weeks ago Judge Martin left for Australia, ostensibly to be present at the celebrations in connection with the Australian Commonwealth. Mrs Simms had left Christchurch a few 'weeks previously on a visit to her mother in Brisbane. From what can be gathered Judge Martin, by previous arrangement, went to Sydney where the pair are now living as man and wife. Mr and Mrs Simms had had some unpleasantness on account of the attentions of the Judge to the latter, and - although she denied that there was anything wrong between. them, it was’ agreed she should visit her mother for a time. Accordingly, she left for Australia. Although all sorts of rumours have been circulated, the facts, so far as can be gathered, appear to be that Mrs Simms wrote to her husband, making certain confessions as to her relations with Judge Martin, stating that- they were living as man and wife in Sydney, and had no intention of returning to him. Judge Martin also wrote to his solicitors in Christchurch, admitting the fact, and naturally announcing his intention of not coming back to the colony. It matters little whether he has taken the alternative of resigning, as removal would nelcessarily have followed the grave scandal. Mrs Simms was a daughter of Mrs Marshall, of Brisbane, and was a great favourite in the Fendalten district, where she lived. She was also a leading member of the Fendalton Dramatic Club. Mr and Mrs Simms have two children. Mr Martin’s wife is a daughter of the late Mr Saunderson, of GreatPeak Station. Judge Martin, during the time he was relieving Mr Justice Edwards in Christ- . church, lived with his mother at Fendalton, next- door to the Simms. It is stated that during the whole time he was very attentive to Mrs Simms, and frequently took her long excursions, to which, however, her husband objected, but was always assured that these trips m were attended with no impropriety. The news has caused a most painful sensation in Christchurch, where both parties are well-known. A great many people absolutely declined to believe that a man of Judge Martin’s abilities, »-•- who had risen to the height of his ambition, could possibly have committed such folly. It is understood that proceedings for divorce will at once he instituted by the husband, and that they will not be opposed. Judge Martin was born and educated at Christchurch. On leaving school he joined Mr Duncan, solicitor, and ultimately became a partner. About nine years ago* he was appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate in Wellington, a position which he forsook a few years later to take the office of Public. Trustee. When Mr Justice Denniston was granted leave of absence early last year, in order to proceed to England, Judge Martin was given a temporary seat on the Ben*h, and only last month the appointment was made permane*t. The resignation of Judge Martin, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand was received by the Government on the 4th inst.