A CLERGYMAN'S MARRIED LIFE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 32

A CLERGYMAN'S MARRIED LIFE.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS AND CREDITORS

Mis riarab Ann Edwaids, muse, of Bendigo, applied to the Chief Justice, m ths Divorce Court {sd\,-, the Melbourne Argue), for the dissolution of her marriage with Albert Edwards, a clergyman, on the ground of desertion for thiee yeais and upwards without lawful excuse. Sii John Quick, who appeared for the petitioner — i-espondent being unrepresented, — said that at the time of the marriage (in January, 1897) respondent was a lay reader of the Church of England, Morwell, and som« time aftarwards was ordained clergyman. Notwithstanding his holy calling, Edwards figured in several episodes which showed his disposition wa« bad, for on two occasions his wife had to complain of his behaviour with, first, a maid in their employ at Morwell, and, afterwards, a lsjdy-help at Pyramid Hill, where they were living. On the first occasion he flew into a great pa3sion when she spoke io him, but did not dony the truth of the girl's complaint. In •luly, 1898, they went to New Zealand, ostensibly because his relations with the Bishop were unsatisfactory, but he insisted on the ladyhalp going with them. He secured employment m the parish of Clyde, Bishopric of ±Junedin, where matters with reference to the ladyhelp reached a rbinax, ending in the woman having to leave the household, n.d respondent going down on his knees to beg for forgiveness. It was not, however, alleged that anything more than mere familiarity had taken place with either of the women. After this incident Edwards and his wife got along better together, until his relations with I'is parishioners becoming strained ho expressed his intention of seeking a parish in the Wellington Bishopric, and of sending his wife back to Melbourne to live with her parents, promising to rejoin her if he filled m his search foi a parish. On the morning of the wife's departure he got up very early, bade her and the children faiewell, and left, &he believed, to evade his creditors, who were pressing him. From the time she arrived in Melbourne she heard no more fioui Edwards, her inquiries by letter in 'Naw Zealand eliciting the reply that his creditors knew no more about his whereabouts than she did. Finally, she was compelled to take a situation. After evidence had baen given, the Chief Justice said he doubted whether the evidence of domicile was such as to sustain the petition. He desired to help the petitioner in any way he could, but if he granted a decree a serious and. dangerous position would arise if it were afterwards held that he had no jurisdiction. Argument ensued, and the Chief Justice then said he found that the lespondent had deserted his wife for three years and upwards without lawful excuse. The question of domicile he would reserve for reference to the Full Court. At a later stage Mr Woolf, on beha'if of Sir John Quick, obtained consent to reopen the question of law at a future sitting.