BROKEN MARITAL BONDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1339, 29 May 1918, Page 10

BROKEN MARITAL BONDS.

SITTINGS IN DIVORCE. LIST OF UNDEFENDED CASES. Marital bonds were broken at the Supreme Court late yesterday afternoon by his Honour Mr Justice Herdman with great celerity, the preliminary order being.given for the dissolving of seven marriages, which were not opposed, whilst one was deferred for consideration. The. eight divorce applications which were not opposed occupied an average of but eight minutes apiece from the time counsel opened until the determination of the Judge was .given. BROKEN HOME LIFE. A talc of broken home life was told by Henry Evans .Tones (Mr Cuttingham), who sought a dissolution of his marriage with Emily Isabel Joues on the grounds of desertion and infidelity. The petitioner stated that he had been married on March 17, 1914, and he and his wife had lived together in Christchurch for one year at the home, of his people, during which time a child was born. He then furnished a home, and they lived together for some time. In 1915 his wife left him, taking up the occupation of a barmaid, but. leaving him the child. He later met her in Christchureh, and after persuasion she » returned to him for three months. During this time she drank heavily and complained of a lack of freedom. Eventually she returned to her occupation as barmaid, and shortly afterwards went to live with a cabman, and the two departed for Australia. The petition was granted, the decree " nisi to be made absolute in three months. Custody of tho child was granted to the petitioner. A t DISPARITY IN AGES. Lena Catherine Teed (Mr fluut), who married Wm. Teed in 1909 and who-' sought a dissolution of her marriage on the ground of desertion, was 19 years of age, and her husbaud 4-1 years at the time of the marriage. According to petitioner, they only lived together seven mouths, at Port Levy, when her husband left on holiday for Christchureh. The holiday was extended, no word coming of ids whereabouts until a year later, when she received a letter from him written front Australia. After hearing petitioner's mother, Marion Elizabeth Peach, in support, a decree nisi on the usual terms was granted. FORGIVENESS FOR £4O. "My wifo wrote- me, after I had discovered her unfaithfulness, stating that if I would forgive her she would pay me £4o,'' said Arthur Grove Wilson (Mr Johnston), who applied that his marriage with Martha Wilson should be set aside. James Burns whs named as the co-respondent. The petitioner's story was that he lived with his wife and five children in Kaikoura until October, 1916, when she left him, taking up her abovo in Christchureh. He gave her some money, but later was arrested on a charge of failing to and a maintenance order was made against him. Following this, his wife returned two of his children to him, and he had the maintenance order reduced. She offered to send back another, but at this time 'he was apprised of certain facts. In consequence of this, he made a sudden visit to the city with a companion and watched the house. Two of his children, aged nine and five years respectively, returned home at 10 p.m. togethi ,-, and he questioned them. The result was a sudden entry in the house with his companion—Eric Frew, who also later gave evidence—and the discovery of his wife and the co-respondent under circumstances which left no doubt as to the real position, a state of affairs which his wife attempted to justify in a frank explanation. A decree nisi was granted, with costs against the co-rospondent. "We are not asking for the custody of the children," said Mr Johnston. "My client has already those in his possession which he wants to keep." WATCHFUL NIGHTS.

A husband's unfaithfulness was the cause of the suit of Blanche Frances May Carter (Mr Johnston) whose mar-* riage with Arthur IJ. Carter, a garage proprietor, Victoria Street, was the subject of. a decree nisi, granted on the usual terms and with costs against the respondent. The petitioner, a prepossessing young *■ woman, stated that in November* 191G, trouble with another woman causod trouble with her husband. He stated that he was leaving for Australia, but a court order of 30/- a week for maintenance was . . secured. She called weekly for her maintenance at the garage where he lived. Her suspicions being aroused she kept watch on the place ami saw her husband.enter with a girl, and did not see them leave. Following the evidence of petitioner's father, Frederick Gulliver-Cradwick, an agent, the order previously mentioned was made. - A BROKEN DESERTION. An allegation that the respondent in the case had attempted to break the period of five years which constitutes legal desertion sufficient for grounds of divorce, by means of fraud, was made in the case of Mary Louisa Taylor, the petitioner, against Albert V. Taylor, the respondent. Mr Donnelly, who' appeared for the petitioner who applied for P dissolution of her marriage on the ground of desertion, stated that for a brief interval cohabitation had been resumed by the parties during the period of five years mentioned, but the wife had taken her husband back on the understanding that he would provide for her. He not only did not do the latter, but informed her that he had resumed relations on legal advice to prevent divorce, and once more was leaving her. Mr Donnelly quoted au Australian case in 3upport of the legal point raised as to cohabitation by fraud. Mary Louisa Taylor gave evidence rc»!rding her marriage. She lived with Her husband in Christclvurch for four years, and there had been one child of the marriage. In 1910, they separated, but her husband returned in October 1912, deserting her again in the following month. Most of'the time she lived With him she worked for her living. Frank Matthews, father of the petitioner, gave corroborative evidence. His Honour said that lie would have to consider the question of the breaking of the period of desertion, and would therefore reserve decision. "LOVED TOO WELL."

Adultery was an allegation made against Harry Burton Thompson by his wife Gertrude May Thompson (Mr Hunt), the grounds proving sufficient for the granting of a decree nisi with custody of the children. The petitioner stated that she lived fit Christehureh with her husband until 1913, when one child was born. Her husband said he was going to the Cass to work, and left her. She found this was untrue, and saw him later. He eaid that he had found the girl ho loved. She interviewed the girl in question, who said she loved the respondent too well to bit him go. Her husband admitted mis\jnduct. She had often seen him with this girl who lived at Marshland with parents. Respondent boarded ;thcra.

Frank O'Connell, an inquiry agent, said that he served tho petition on the respondent who lived at Marshland. Respondent during; this month admitted to witness that he was "practically living" with the girl in question. A HOME UNREALISED. "My husband promised to make me a home at Te Kuiti, but instead of going there went to Australia," said Helen .lane Le Seur (Mr Alpers), who alleged desertion on the part of Johu James Le Seur. It was stated the parties lived for a space in Christchureh, whero one child was born. Then an interval of separation followed whilst respondent worked successively on the West Coast, Palmcrston North, and later at Te Kuiti, where he was in the employ of his brother as a hairdresser and tobacconist. He left as described in Juno 1910. The petitioner's evidcuce was corroborated by a sister, Agnes Wilson. A decree nisi was granted with costs and custody of the'ehild. AN HOTEL INCIDENT. The story of a youthful marriage which came to grief was narrated by Edith Elizabeth Bowen (Mr Hunter), who alleged adultery against her husband, Harold Charles Bowen, a motorcar salesman. The petitioner stated that in August 1013, she married the respondent, her age then being 18 years. There were two children of the marriage, three and four years of age respectively. At the outset she had to rely on her father for support. In February last she obtained a separation at the Magis-. trate's Court from the respondent. The petitioner then related how on the night of April 23, in company with her brother Everard, she watched from outside the Oxford Hotel where her husband had moved. A barmaid, employed at the Shades Hotel, was suspected of being within. Further particulars of the Oxford Hotel incident were given by Lieut. Everard Percy Gray, a brother of tho petitioner. He went inside with a returned soldier named Dalziel, and confirmed the presence of a woman in Bowen's room. Confirmation of this story was given by John Dudley Dalziel, and a decree nisi was granted with costs, and the custody of the children.