QUEER DIVORCE CASE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10522, 25 February 1920, Page 8

QUEER DIVORCE CASE

LIFE IN THE JUNGLE “A SCANDAL IN HIGH LIFE.” Lady Cnrbery was granted a divorce in Dublin recently on the grounds of the cruelty and misconduct of her husband, Lord Carbory. There was no dctcnce, but Mr Best, K.C., who watched tho case on behalf of Lord Carbory, said ho was there to give tho court what assistance ho could. Serjeant Sullivan,, K.C., for Lady Carbory, said tho parties wore married at Paddington Parish Church in 1913, Lord Caibery being 21 and his wife 19 After the honeymoon. Lord Carbery took his wife to East Africa, and compelled her to ride long distances on horseback. In her state of health that ordeal oaused her great pain, and the marvel was that sho came out of the country with het life.

When she complained that she was not capable of keeping up with him in his wild life in tho jungle ho got annoyed. She used to throw herself upon the ground writhing in pain and agony ns a result of that dreadful expedition. In November, 1913, without anything to alleviate its hardships for a delicate woman, she had a miscarriage. A “BLACK” EYE. Counsel also spoke of ,an occasion when tho husband and wife were staying at the house of her father, Air Metcalfe. For some trivial cause Lord Carbery lost his temper and became very violent. He seized his wife’s hand, and with it gave her a blow on the face which produced a black eye. In July, 1915, ho took her again with him to Africa, where ho had an extensive farm, oh which there was no house. He compelled her to live with him in a leaky grass hut like a savage, where she contracted malaria. One result of the first trip to Africa was that the lady’s hearing was badly affected, and the malaria increased her deafness. In April, 1918, .Lord Carbery again took his wifj to Africa. In the meantime a house had (been built on tho farm, and they lived there. He one day lost his temper and beat her violently with a whip. Coming to charges of misconduct, counsel said there was evidence of a visit paid by Lord Carbery to Paris, when he was watched. Ho ktayed W an hotel there with a woman. LONG DAYS ON HORSEBACK. Lady Carbery said that after landing at Mombasa, in East Africa, they had long days’ rides on horseback which were extremely painful to her. She complained, but was compelled to endure. At the end of tho journey she was very exhausted. She had only two blankets. She suffered intensely from tho cold, for they were at an elevation of 6000 ft. They spent their time hunting wild beasts. She was compelled by her husband to hunt and shoot, and tacklo savage animals by herself. When she showed incapacity for that woik ho abused he>. In June, 1914, at her father’s house, some words passed between them. She was in bed. He seized her arm, and with' it struck her on the forehead, giving her a black eye. He used violent language. When ho compelled to live in a grass hut in Africa it was the rainy season. There was no glass in the windows, and the rain penetrated. She had no medical attendance, her only help being black African “boys.” She did notl care to go to Africa, but she understood it would bo only for a little while. They were there for seven months in 1918. -While there Lord Carbery struck her • with a sjambok three or four times, and left its marks on her body. Tho judge : Was ho under the influence of drink when he struck you?— No; it was his violent temper. Lady Carbery said there was one child of the .jnarriago, a girl, now 3.