ANTARCTIC EXPLORER’S DIVORCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER’S DIVORCE.

WORSLEY v. WORSLEY. (From Ode Own Correspondpvt ) LONDON, April 18. Commander F. A. Worsley, D. 5.0., R.D., R.N.R., figured as the respondent in a divorce case whicli was heard before Sir Henry Dube yesterday. Mrs Theodore Cayley Worsley, of C'herrymead, Shering ham, Norfolk, in petitioning for the dissolution of her marriage, alleged desertion and adultery against her husband, Frank Arthur Worsley, who was described as a retired commander, Royal Naval Reserve. There was no defence. The case was before the court on March 5, when evidence was given of the parties having lived apart for some time and of the respondent sending his wife two letters in which she passed on to her brother, Mr Seton Cotter Blackden, an actor, of Duke street, St. James’s. There were in consequence interviews between the brother and the respondent on the subject of restitution proceedings and divorce, and subsequently petitioner obtained a decree for restitution of conjugal rights. Later, on receiving a bill from the respondent showing that he had stayed with a woman at the Washington Hotel, Cuiv.on street, London, and having been identified by a chambermaid from the hotel, a petition was entered for a divorce. In view of the interviews the President adjourned the case that he might more fully consider the position.

_ Mr Noel Middleton (counsel for the peti tioner) called Mrs Worsley, the petitioner, who said she had made no arrangement with her husband in respect of taking proceedings. Mr Blackden, the brother, said when the respondent called upon him in regard to the letters he sent his wife he said he wanted to divorce his wife; Witness told him he could not do so, as there was nothing against her, and if there was a divorce she was the one to divorce him. He had made no arrangement with his brother-in-law with regard to his sister taking proceedings. Witness said he went down to Sheernass to find the respondent, and then to a club in Coventry street, to his address ■in Cricklewood, and again to Sheerness. Ho encountered him at last at Sittingbourne, on the arrival of a train from Victoria. Commander Worsley went off in the Quest, which was due to sail on September 21, 1921. The Px-esident expressed himself quite satisfied that there had been no arrangement between the parties, and in granting a decree nisi, with costs, said he had suggested a full consideration of the matter because ho attached great weight to the responsibility that rested upon the judge sitting in that court, having regard to the influence of the proceedings upon public morals and upon the morals of the com munity.