ICHOES FROM THE D VOKCE COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2688, 20 September 1905, Page 13

ICHOES FROM THE D VOKCE COURT.

A HUSBAND'S DESERTION.

At the Supieme Court, Auckland, on Friday, Ada Mary Collins petitioned for a divorce from Alfred Collins on the ground of desertion Petitioner said she was married on January 10, 1900, at the registrar's office, at Auckland, and e,he went to keep house for her sister at Epsom for a fortnight, during which time her husband lived with her. On February 3 her husband j went to Papakura with some horses, and she I went to her people at Waikato, it being arranged that her husband should follow later on. Several affectionate letters were exchanged between them, in which her husband promised to ride in a race a fortnight later and then give up the turf for good, and come and settle down alongside his " own little pet." The petitioner said that at last her husband came up to her people at Hamilton ; her people arranged to set him up on a farm. He said he had promised to take some horses to Dargaville, and after he had done this he would return and settle. From this time on she never saw or heard from her husband again. Mrs Alice Turbutt, petitioner's sister, gave cvi- j donee of respondent and other boys renting a house and having a jolly time in it with 6ome girls. A decree nisi was granted, to bo made absolute after three months. A SALVATIONIST'S PETITION. John Samuel Brighouse petitioned for a divorce from Lillian Harriet Brighouse, on the ground of desertion. The petitioner said he was married in June, 1897, and there was one child. They lived together happily at Kaeo for 16 or 17 months. His work took him away from home for frequent intervals. He spent very little money on himself, being neither a drinker nor a gambler, but his wages were insufficient to finance his wife's extravagant habits. She gave numerous parties, and he got into debt; he resolved that they should leave the temptations of Kaeo. He went to Dannevirke, but, at his wife's request, she remained behind to allow him time to provide a home there. A fortnight after he had left Kaeo he said he received a startling letter from his wife, in which she complained that he had left her in an uncomfortable home with her child sick and no firewood. The petitioner said the child was well when he loft home, and he left six months' supply of firewood. She declared that, after the way in which he had bullied, insulted, and sneered at her, she would never live with him again. Petitioner said he replied to this letter absolutely denying the charges, and asking her to come down. He then received a cartoon of a Salvation Army bandsman, in which he recognised the penmanship of his wife. He had joined the Salvation Army on reaching Dannevirlc©. ! Petitioner said he visited Kaeo to eeo his wife and reconcile her. but she would not have anything to do with him. He went to her mother and asked her if she could tell him what was the reason of this behaviour, and his mother-in-law said it was because he was too prim and would not let her get about to danoes and other things just as she liked. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute after three months. A WIFE'S PETITION. Jane£ Dawson petitioned for a divorce ! from Duncan Campbell Forbes Dawson on the ground of adultery. Petitioner said she was married in December, 1886. One j child was living in 1902. Mrs Stanley was living at Manukau Heads as postmistress. Mrs Stanley's husband died next year, and the petitioner took pity on her as a lonely widow, and did her many acts lof kindness. In January the respondent confessed to petitioner that Mrs Stanley was about to give birth to a child of his. In spite of petitioner's protestations, Mrs Stanley was kept in the house. Petitioner went to a private hospital to be operated orf, and after the operation she was brought back on a stretcher and found that the woman was still there. Four days later, against the doctor's order, petitioner got up a.nd left the house for good. His Honor said the point might be raised that the unfortunate wife had apparently condoned the offence. Mr Reed, for petitioner, said it was unwilling condonance. A sick woman could not very well fight against it. * Evidence was given that respondent had

admitted that bo w,t= now coli.'Mi in£ wirh Mrs Stanley.

His Honor detcirod wanting <i decco nisi till Monda;,, io <\i iblr Mi i\( e<\ o make an application foi liuuntoiui'uo.

A CRIMINAL DIVOiiCi;

Maude ChnsU«>n petitioned fo: a up oicP from her husband. Timothy Pacanl Chu*tian, on tho ground of respondent's criminal assault upon a little girl. JTetitionpr said she was an hotel cook at Wainku np to the time of hei nicirntigo in 1599, and they then lived together m Auckland' t II J Maj, 1305. when her husband was arrested am! con- \ ictcd. On account of his comicvion she sought a divorce. Mr Se-^erne, the chief gaoler, said respondent was undergoing a sentence of 10 years. His Honor expressed regret that, the law did not permit a conviction to be accepted as proof in a case of this kind without making it n^ces-s-iry for the story to be gone o^ or again. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute, with the custody of the child, after throe months.