CASE COLLAPSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3766, 18 May 1926, Page 7

CASE COLLAPSES.

ACTION TOR DIVORCE. • A WITNESS’S FABRICATIONS. WELLINGTON. May 13. An extraordinary position arose in divorce proceedings to-day. in which Ida Alexandra Eton sought a decree on the grounds of adultery by Major Charles Argle Eton, farmer, of Grey town, with Kate Mar ley, aged 17. a maid in the house. At the commencement of the case there was slight confusion as to the dates of the alleged misconduct, but Mr Treadwell, for the petitioner, said the dates in the petition were according to his instructions. The allegations, based on witness Marley’s statements, were that Eton, during his wile’s absence for a few days in Wellington. entered Marley’s room and forcibly assaulted her. She told Mrs Eton a circumstuntial story, which the latter believed. In the witness box Marley admitted that she had been discharged from seven situations in I*2 mouths for lying, and she so frequently contradicted her statements, and admitted so many misstatements, that Mr Treadwell, after frequent conferences with his client, said lie had an application to tftake. As the witness on whom the petitioner chiefly relied had, both in examination and cross-examina-tion, proved so unreliable, both he and his client felt that they could go no further, and that it would bo an injustice to the respondent if the decree were secured on such evidence. He asked leave to withdraw the petition. Mr G. G. Watson, for the respondent, said he could have amply proved the evidence to be a fabrication, inspired by tbe spite of witness it being discharged by the respondent.