WAR BRIDE DESERTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 727, 29 July 1929, Page 11

WAR BRIDE DESERTED

WIFE GRANTED DIVORCE An echo of a war marriage was heard by Mr. Justice Herdmau in the j Supreme Court this morning, when | Ellen Winifred Church, who is now ; living in London, asked for the sever- I ing of her matrimonial bonds with William Thomas Church, a resident of Onehuuga, on grounds of desertion. The wife’s evidence, which was submitted on affidavit by Mr. Dickson, showed that she had married Church, who was a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, in Sussex, England, ill August, 1919. Two months later they left for New Zealand, arriving in Auckland in November. They lived together in Pousonby until August, 1922, when she returned to England on an IS months’ visit to her parents. Her husband had agreed to forward allotments of £l2 monthly, but had sent nothing. Subsequently she obtained a maintenance order, under which her husband had paid her £143, but he was now considerably in arrears of payments. They had since lived apart. This testimony was accepted by his Honour, who granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months. Respondent was ordered to pay costs. AN UNUSUAL CASE John Hendley Kissling, a young farmer, petitioned for restitution of conjugal rights with his wife, Lesley Mcßae Kissling. The couple were married in October last year, and separated last March, explained Mr. Bagnall, on behalf of the petitioner. In evidence, petitioner said he was married in Wellington on October 23, 1928, and subsequently lived with his wife at Mangere. He confirmed counsel’s explanation of the circumstances of their married life. His Honour: What reason did your wife give for leaving you? “I think she thought it was for our mutual happiness,” replied petitioner. Kissling added that he had phoned his wife at her flat urging her to return. An order was made requiring the wife to return to her husband in 14 days.