A MARRIAGE TANGLE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12201, 28 July 1925, Page 10

A MARRIAGE TANGLE

“HUSBAND WAS A GIRL” ASTOUNDING DIVORCE CASE LONDON, July 25. The Paris correspondent of the “Morning Post" states that an astonishing divorce suit was heard in the courts. The principal party was registered as a girl, in accordance with the medical certificate of birth, but she had later developed male characteristics. When she married in 1921 she borrowed hor brother’s identity papers in order to overcome the legal obstacle due to the fact that she was officially of the female sex. The marriage thus took placo. The husband had served in the war. Later the wife brought a petition for divorce, whereupon the husband produced the birth certificate and forced the codrt to hold that misconduct was impossible as both parties were proved to be women. The wife’s counsel pleaded that this was an absurdity, but the court pointed out that the civil code ordained that questions of this kind could not be considered after six months’ marriage.

AN INVETERATE SMOKER Sir Thomas Lipton was offered a cigar and declined. "Although I am probably the bigßest smoker in England, I never smoke cigar3,'* he said. *-Prefer a pipe or cigarettes, I suppose?" said the other. "No, I never smoke either," replied Sir Thomas. “Indeed," said bis friend, "then may I ask what you do smoke?” ‘Bacon,” .said Sir Thomas.