DIVORCE COURT. WELLINGTON, September 19.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 38

DIVORCE COURT. WELLINGTON, September 19.

At the Supreme Court to-day Mr Justice" Cooper heard an application made by a, young and attractive-looking woman named Clara Jeffreys to be released from her marital obligations to Francis Henry Jeffreys, a butcher by trade, but now serving a sentence of 18 months for forgery in Wellington Prison. The grounds of the petition, were that the respondent wag an habitual drunkard, had beon guilty of frequent acts of cruelty to 'his wife, and had frequently, left her without means of support. Counsel, in opening th© case, told the court that the petitioner's miserable domestic- experience was remarkable in that it presented all the offences alleged as a ground for the petition, and also other offences which emphasised the intolerable condition of th© petitioner whilst living as a married woman. The respondent had been a hopeless dipsomaniac, systernaticailv cruel to 1113 wife, had failed to contribute to her maintenance or that of her children, and by his dishonest conduct had brought Same upon, everyoneconnected with him. In May last bo was . sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for iforgery, and his Honor the Chief Justice then took occasion to remark that he was one of that hopeless class of men which if; was impossible to know what to do with, unless it were by a system of indeterminate sentences. The petitioner gave evidence that she was married to the respondent at Wanganui in May, 1898. They had then known, each other for only three or four months. Subsequently they lived at Petone, Wellington, and Hutt. and then he left her. Two children were born of the marriage. Before they left Wanganui the respondent commenced drinking, and came home drunk; practically every night. This conduct began within two months of their marriage. While they were in Wanganui he attempted to cut her throat with a razor. He waa sharpening his razor. " It's a lie, Cuvra, a well-dressed young* woman screamed front the gaJlery in piercing tones and voice tremulous ; " it's a lie, and you know better. I can't stand here and hear my brother maligned." His Honor: "If tha,t woman does not keep still she must be removed." "I oan't help it," replied the offender, still speaking loudly as if under the greatest; exoitement. "I am his sister, and I contradict every word of it. Clara, and you, know different." His Honor: "Turn that woman out if she can't behave herself.' But before the officers could carry out Ihe instructions she could be heard rushing rapidly down the stairs and out into tho street. On calm being restored the evidence of tne petitioner was continued. His Honor granted a decree- nisi.