DIVORCE AFTER THREE MONTHS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8331, 17 January 1913, Page 11

DIVORCE AFTER THREE MONTHS

WHERE HUSBAND’S DESERTION NULLIFIES A MARRIAGE.

LONDON, December 8. Beatrice Countess Seni Bhidak was the petitioner in the Divorce Court for a judicial separation from her husband. Count Seni Bhidak, on the ground of desertion. Tho case was undefended, air Barnard, K. 0., said the marriage took place on Juno 11th, 1908, at the registry office, Kensington. The petitioner was an American by birth, and she was married to a German, and afterwards her marriage was dissolved by tho German courts. In August, 1907, she met the respondent, who was a Siamese, in Germany. In May, 1908, the petitioner came to F.ng.aud, and shortly afterwards the respondent followed her. The result was that on June 11th, 1908, she was married to him. They, lived together in London at South Kensington.down to July 24th or 2oth, 1908. They then went to Singapore, the respondent telling bis wife that it was necessary for him to go out to Siam. After they got to Singapore respondent first suggested to petitioner that she should remain there while he went to Bangkok. Afterwards no sa dit would bo better that she . should return to England, and ho took a passage for her to return on September 28th. On September .23rd she received a letter in which ho addressed her as “ Dearest Baby.” .• On the 28th the lady received a telegram from hor husband,' who had left with a Siamese lady on September 23rd. Tho telegram was: I have consulted a lawyer. You are free to marry whomsoever. 1 have fully provided you with ample means. Best for you to return homo. I can do nothing more for you. Thanks for police escort,

On July 28th, 1900, the husband made a declaration, which was in Siamese, and which, in fact, sai I counsel, was a dissolution of marriage. The petitioner, a fashionably dressed lady, tall and dark, bore out counsel's opening statement, and added that it- was through the German Consul that she obtained the document from Siam. Evidence of Siamese law whs given by Mr Richard Dudley Oraig, formerly legal adviser to the Siamese Government, who has resided for ' sofno years at Bangkok. He explained that according to Siamese law, if a husband deserted his wife for three months, ipso facto, divorce took place. The petitioner could not take any proceedings in tho Court of Siam now, 2 the document were valid. There was no action in Siamese law for restitution of conjugal rights. His Lordship: I must dismiss this petition, on the ground that there is no marriage, the marriage-having been put an end to by tho laws of the land of domicile.