DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22418, 13 November 1934, Page 10

DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS

CHAMPION BOXER'S SUIT EVIDENCE OF , CO-RESPONDENT (Pee United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, November 12. The Morgan divorce action was continued to-day. The respondent, in her evidence, said her husband saw her again at the . Napier races. He said he had met her father and had showed him a paper she had signed. He said he had asked her father not to take her back home. " Ted accused me of all the things on the paper," ' said witness, " adultery with Marsh, but I denied it. Ted then had said how about forgetting all about it and coming back." She declined. Her father said: "If you are like this now, how will it be like in a few years ? " She told her mother what had happened, and then saw her solicitor. Proceedings for separation and maintenance were taken by witness, who alleged cruelty. After these proceedings had terminated divorce papers were served on her at Gisborne. Jack Alexander Thomas, of Hastings, gave evidence that Mrs Morgan stayed a night at his place, where Marsh was boarding. There was absolutely no opportunity of Mrs Morgan and Marsh committing misconduct. Witness was at home that night. Marsh, in evidence, said he first met Morgan on the Hastings railway station. The firfct thing Morgan said was: "Do you want, to marry thiL, girl?" Witness took it as a joke and said, " Oh, I wouldn't mind." JVlorgan produced a pen and papers which he asked him to sign. He refused and Morgan said, "Won't you?" and cracked him. His Honor: We have had two versions. What did he do? Witness: He punched me on the side of the jaw. Mrs Morgan said: " Don't make a scene here," and one of them said, "We will get on the station." " Morgan got me bailed in a corner," continued the witness, " and asked me to sign. I refused. Both convinced me they had been to a lawyer in Wellington aud wanted to divorce one another. I didn't want to sign, and Morgan said: 'lf vou don't sign, you won't be alive to tell the tale.'" Mr Mazengarb: What is your weight? Witness: About 7.7. Witness said that Morgan was parading before him, and more to get away from him than anything else, he signed. His Honor: And do you want us to believe that Morgan punched you? Witness: Yes,,l do. You want us to believe you were punched on the jaw by a man whom your counsel describes, as the champion welter-weight of the world? > I felt like that, anyhow.—,Laughter.) His Honor you and Mrs Morgan ever discussed the question of her getting a divorce and marrying you?—No. Has there ever been any, shall I say, sweethearting between you?-*-No. His Honor will sum up to-morrow morning.