BLACK, OF BLENHEIM.

NZ Truth, Issue 571, 27 May 1916, Page 5

BLACK, OF BLENHEIM.

Hia Penchant for Mrs. Perry. The first petition m divorce heard by his Honor, Mr. Justice, Denniston, last week at the Dunedfh Supreme Court, was wherein Louisa Black sought a dissolution of marriage with John Black, sheep farmer, Blenheim, on. th« grcilin<l of mlscondxict, Lawyer A. S. Adams represented the petitioner, and Lawyer Mlddleton appeared for the respondent* but only on the matters of , CUSTODY AND COSTS, as Black had filed no defence. Louisa Black entered the box and; narrated her story, little of which reached the press table owing to Lawyer Adams's attitude m placing?himself beside the- witness's pedestal' and whispering her queries, receiving In reply whispers. Such procedure on L»wycr Adams's part is an old, old failing, and ho did not got too far this time when his Honor opened flre. His Honor: What are you doing j-lhero, Mr. Adams? Kindly go away from your client, and address her from \ your place at the table so as the whole court sha\l hear, Mr. Adams: I tun merely, your Honor, endeavoring to— to — to— His Honor: Kindly go back to your ! place, Mr. Adorns and spoak out. Tho lawyer obeyed his Honor's In--1 structlons. Louisa Black stated that shs wa« married on May 14, ISDQ, a ud lived at Oxford, m Canterbury with her hus- . btinU. Four children resulted from tho marriage, Her husband >,i\ve her tho photograph of a Mrs. Perry at Walmatc. He an Id he had met her at Picton and went with her to Wolllagton, they travelled together, as Mrs. Peiry hud remarked that she was lonely. On ouu occasion he had motored from Htonhcltn, tuul had b«*«n nt Akafoa v few <3uys with Mrs. Perry. Mrs. Annlo Bell, Hotel Metropole, Akaroa, stated that on September 23, KUS, two persona, v Mr. and Mrs. Bluck stayed at tho hotel. They came on a Thursday and left on a Monday. She recognised the photos (produced) as those of Mr. Black, and tho lady who posed n$ Mrs. Black. Lawyer' Adunitt continued his "whispering," but hi» Honor rang it off peremptorily with: "SutHcient, sufficient. Mr. Adams; I am not quite so credulous as Mrs. Black, m the absence of any defence, that Is sufficient." His Honor then with a scratch severed the bonds; tho Question of tho children being reserved until tho decree absolute was moved fur. Costa £25 wero allowed petitioner.