DIVORCE SUIT FAILS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10633, 5 July 1920, Page 5

DIVORCE SUIT FAILS

GISBORNE 'CAUSE CELEBRE' LEADING CITIZEN AS. A RESPONDENT. (Special to the "Times."] GISBORNE, July 3. The hearing of a divorce suit which occasioned much local interest has just been concluded at Gisborne, before Mr Justice Sim. The corny: was occupied for over two days with the case. The petitioner was Henry Herri Home, who sought a dissolution, of bin marriage with Emily Home, on the ground of her alleged misconduct with George Brown Oman, who was joined as co-respondent. The co-respondent is, one of ■ the leading men of Gisborne, a resident of 46 years' standing, licensee of the Gisborne Hotel, an-J closely connected in other ways with the trade. Very lengthv evidence was given on behalf of the petitioner, alleging misconduct between Mrs Home, and Mr Oman on several occasions in her house, in the house of an acquaintance, and in the servants' quarters of tho Gisborne Hotel (co-respondent's hotel). Also there was evidence of co-respon-dent having been seen fondling respondent's hand during a demonstration on Peace night, and of his having kissed her at tho wharf when she and her daughter were leaving for - Sydney. Petitioner and another witness testified thai they distinctly saw Mr Oman leavine Mrs Home's house on :uJ>ro than oV! occasion at night-time, and there was also a story of how petitioner coming home unexpectedly early one night discovered an intruder (alleged to be Sir Oman) in the house. .The intruder, he said, made a hasty exit over the back fence, and when petitioner went inside ho found his wife to be rather scantily clad. There were several other incidents which the petitioner regarded no suspicious, and indicative of something more than mere friendship between his wife arid Mr Oman. These-he related at some length. The defence consisted in a flat denial of the allegations of petitioner and his witnesses. Emphatic evidence in this direction was given by respondent and co-respondent, and the fact that petitioners home had been broken up was attributed in evidence to his cruelty towards his wife and family rather than to the attentions of Mr Oman. A Gisborne solicitor was called to state that at the time a separation order between Horhe /md his wife was being negotiated Hoine had said he was satisfied that the charges of indiscretion ho had made asainst his wife were without foundation.

Tho jury found against the petitioner, and the petition'was dismissed by His Honour with costs on tho higher, scale to both respondent and co-respon-dent, from whom £2OOO damages had been claimed.