Braund's Frivolities.

NZ Truth, Issue 131, 21 December 1907, Page 3

Braund's Frivolities.

The cable sender at the Commonwealth end m hia brief reference to

the celebrated society divorce case, 'Wallace v. Wallace and Strong, made mention that the name of A. Braund, the English cricketer now with Jones' team vi Australia, had cropped up during the proceedings. In its report of thc case, Melbourne "Truth" records these portions which are associated with John Bull's willow and leather manipulator. Petitioner m giving evidence, said :— With reference to his wife's infatuation for Braund, the cricketer, he had told her the man was no good, and that she must not go about with him, as it was only making a laughing-stock of her husband and f*mily. She • refused to believe him-, and said Braund was a gentleman. Petitioner then informed her that Braund had SHOWN HIM LETTERS he had' received from Sydney prostitutes, but she continued to declare her belief m the man. When the cricketers went to Melbourne he found Mrs Wallace o.rying m her bedroom. She wanted to go to Melbourne. She made the excuse that she wanted to see her child, but tho petitioner replied that as she had remained away from the ' little fellow so long, another week would not hurt her, and that m his opinion she simply wanted to follow Braund. "I went on my knees to her," continued Wallace, pathetically, "and implored her to have nothing more to do with that man-" Sbe simply threw her bead hack and laughed. "A nice sort of a man you are," she said, "to admit that you can't &EEP YOUR OWN WIFE to yourself. Why the devil can't you get another woman, and not keep ' on worrying me ?'•' Finally Mrs Wallace returned to Melbourne, and he found her still carrying on with Braund. Ho continued to beg of her not to meet thc man. "Braund is a gentleman," she replied, "and you are a cad-" Subsequently he found the letter to "Dear Len" (meaning Braund) ami Mrs Wallace 'fcji.lled him a mean skunk for going to her writing pad and sneaking things out of her waste paper baskets. In cross-examination, petitioner admitted having gone with Braund to the theatre with his wife, and on ono occasion had him as a guest on board the* Bona. He had- driven to the cricket-ground with Braund, his wife, and Mrs MacGillieuddy. He was also m a group' PHOTO. TAKEN BY BRAUND. He objected to the way his wife looked at th'C man ahd sought hid society. He once noticed 'them tapping their feet together at the Hotel Australia, Sydney. It was her general conduct with Braund he objected to. There was nothing worse than flirtation bet Wc-en them. He had never accused her of sexual intercourse with Braund. After the English cricketers left for England, M):.s Wallace became pregnant. It would be untrue if it were sworn he had said to her; "The child you are carrying is Braund's, not mine. He had never made inquiries lo ascertain if his -wife was m the ordinary female health after Braund's departure. He had never accused her of being Braund's mistress. He 'did not believe she had ever gone as far as sexual intercourse with any other man than the co-respondent m the suit. He did not accuse his wife of writing to Braund before he discovered her "letter, and it was not true that she had written the letter he found m a fit and tore it up before his face. It was not true that she showed him the* letter, and he had not said "*I won't read it." Ho believed his wife had written a genuine letter to Braund. Altogether, Braund seems to have got more limelight m this case titan he is likely to get during the whole of the tour of the Englishmen. Everywhere he goes now, Braund is the cynosure of all the petticoat brigade's eyes. What a lot of chaffing he would be likely to get over this divorce episode !