UNDEFENDED DIVORCES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 676, 30 May 1929, Page 11

UNDEFENDED DIVORCES

OVER 70 PETITIONS L DEALT WITH n / ADDITIONAL CASES Practically the whole of yeeterday Mr. Justice Herdman and Mr. Juatice Kennedy were engaged In hearing undefended divorce petition*, over 70 of approximately 100 set down being disposed of. The hearing of cases continued until late in the afternoon. SAYING she was coming to town to draw some money. Phyllis L. Hall left her home at Rototino and did not return, according to her husband Henry Hall, a farmer (Mr. Webster), who asked to be released from his matrimonial bonds on grounds of adultery. Ernest Batty was cited as co-respondent. Petitioner was married in October, 1927, his wife leaving home five months later. In the city he found her living alone in a hoarding house, but later saw her at Herne Bay, where she admitted she had misconducted herself with Batty. Although he had found a man’s clothing in her room there, the co-respond-ent had denied accusations against him. After hearing corroborative testimony, his Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, commenting he was satisfied that adultery had been proved against the woman, but not against the corespondent. Louisa Wirth, of Grey Lynn (Mr. Calder) was granted a decree nisi against Wm. John Wirth, of Kaitaia, on grounds of desertion. IN THE PARK How he watched his wife and another man in Point Erin Park was described by Phillip John Lye, a motor mechanic, of Auckland (Mr. McVeagh), who asked for his marriage to Merinia A. Lye to be dissolved on grounds of adultery. Arthur John Power was cited as co-respondent. Petitioner explained that he and a private inquiry agent, whom he had engaged to watch his wife after they separated, saw his wife and Power enter the park and witnessed their love-making on a seat from a distance of 15 yards. The pair moved to a secluded spot, and after watching them by the aid of night glasses, he and the agent. flashing torches, closed in on tifm. “What are you doing here with my wife?” demanded witness of Power. “I struck him and he bolted,” added witness. “That broke the spell and my wife ran away, too.” When he later accused her of committing adultery she retorted, "Let me alone.” “In my anger I struck her,” added witness. “1 wasn’t responsible for my actions.” The incidents were corroborated by John Goddard, inquiry agent. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months. Costs were awarded against the co-respond-ent. CONJUGAL RIGHTS

Orders for the restitution of conjugal rights within 14 days were made against the following respondents: Gertrude E. Ireland, on the application of William E. Ireland (Mr. McVeigh) ; Ivy Evelyn Daysh, on the petition of Albert Wyvern Daysh (Mr. Grant): Effie I. Partridge, on the application of Stuart Partridge (Mr. Beckerleg); Mary Selena Gillard, on rhe petition of Frederick William Gillard (Mr. Hall Skelton): Hetty Kerr, on the petition of Walter Hume Kerr (Mr. Watson). Decrees nisi on grounds of separation for the statutory period of three years were also granted in the following petitions: Nellie Cotton (Mr. West), v. Henry Cumberland Cotton; Constance Muriel Bolton (Mr. Guy), v. Edward Tates Bolton: Madeline Victoria Wright (Mr. Finlay) v. Alan Gordon Wright.

The petition of Myrtle May Smith (Mr. Matthews) against Thomas Arthur Smith was granted on grounds of failure to comply with a decree for restitution of conjugal rights.