SUPREME COURT

Southland Times, Issue 22895, 21 May 1936, Page 9

SUPREME COURT

DIVORCE CASES (Before His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy.) Divorce and bankruptcy matters were dealt with in the Supreme Court at Invercargill yesterday. On the grounds of a three years’ separation, Violet May Murdoch, of Gore, a married woman (Mr Eustace Russell), petitioned for a divorce from Robert Murdoch, of Otautau, a labourer. A decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months, was granted the petitioner, who was given the interim custody of the infant children named in the petition. Respondent was ordered to pay costs on the lower scale. William James Duncan, of Invercargill, a salesman (Mr J. G. Imlay), was granted a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months, against Ivy Minnie Elizabeth Duncan, of Melbourne, on the grounds of a three year.;’ verbal separation. Ivy Margaret Matthews, suing in forma pauperis (Mr N. L. Watson), petitioned for a divorce from Henry Campbell Matthews, of an unknown address, on the grounds of desertion. A decree nisi was granted and the respondent was ordered to pay disbursements and the sum of £3 as out-of-pocket expenses to the petitioner’s counsel. A verbal three years’ separation agreement was the grounds upon which Ada May Hanger, of Bluff, a married woman (Mr B. W. Hewat), petitioned for a divorce from Leslie Henry Hanger, of Tolaga Bay, a gardener. A decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months, was granted the petitioner. The respondent was ordered to pay costs on the lower scale. On the grounds of a three years’ separation, Edna Olive Sparks (Mr B. W. Hewat) petitioned for a divorce from Ivan Sparks, of Christchurch, a railway employee. His Honour granted the petitioner a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months. Respondent was ordered to pay costs and disbursements on the lower scale. Henrietta May Swan (Mr B. W. Hewat) petitioned for a divorce from Leonard Basil Swan on the grounds of a three years’ separation. A decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three months, was granted to the petitioner. She was given the custody of the child named in the petition and the respondent was ordered to pay costs and disbursements on the lower scale.

Decrees absolute were granted to lolen Te Au (Mr J. C. Prain), Harry Tinker (Mr Prain), Lavinia Margaret McDowell (Mr G. J. Reed), Catherine Cleaver (Mr Reed), Louisa Anderson (Mr J. G. Imlay), Sarah Maddock (Mr Eustace Russell), Harry Franks (Mr Russell), Frances Mary Taylor (Mr B. W. Hewat), Winifred Olive Harris Guinan (Mr Hewat), Irene Elvera Wolfe (Mr Hewat) and Anna Mary Floyd (Mr T. V. Mahoney). Discharges in bankruptcy were granted to Henry Bethal Clarence Parkin (Mr J. C. Prain) and to Charles Grantham Good (Mr B. W. Hewat). SITTING AT NAPIER. (United Press Association.) Hastings, May 20. A verdict of guilty against Hans Peter Mortensen, of Auckland, on one charge of obtaining money by false pretences, and not guilty on three similar charges was returned by a jury at the Supreme Court at Napier this afternoon. . . Tlie charges concerned the obtaining of money for shares in the Tangarakau Coal Mining Co., by falsely representing that Mr William Goodfellow was chairman of directors. The jury also returned a verdict of guilty on charges of breaking, entering and theft by night and theft from a dwelling against Martin Peraniko, alias Bobby Martin, a young Maori labourer of Tikokino. The jury entered a strong recommendation for mercy.