BROKEN MARITAL BONDS.

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

BROKEN MARITAL BONDS.

SITTINGS IN DIVORCE. LIST OF UNDEFENDED CASES. Marital bonds were*broken at the Supreme Court late yesterday afternoon bv his Honour Mr .Justice Herdman with great celerity, the preliminary order being given for the dissolving of seven marriages, which we're 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. BROKKN HOME LIFE. A tale of broken home life was told by Henry Evans Jones (Mr Cnningham), who sought a dissolution of his marriage with Emily Isabel Jones on "the grounds-of desertion and infidelity. The petitioner stated that he had been married on March 17, 19H, 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 19l'd his wife left him, taking up the occupation of a barmaid, but leaving him the child. lie later met her in Christehureh, and after persuasion she returned to him for three mouths. •Pining 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 Vie made absolute in three months. Custody of the child was granted to the petitioner. A DISPARITY I\ T AGES.

Lena Catherine Teeil (Mr Hunt), who married Win. Teed in 1909 and who sought a dissolution ot! her marriage on the ground o'f desertion, was 19 years of age, and her husband 44 years at "the time of the marriage. According to petitioner, they only lived together seven months, at Port Levy, when her husband left on holiday for Christchurch. The holiday was extended, no wovd coming of his whereabouts until a year later, when she received a letter from him written from Australia. After hearing petitioner's mother, Marion Elizabeth Peach, in support, a decree nisi on the usual terms was granted. FORGIVENESS FOR £4O. "My wife wrote me, after I had discovered her unfaithfulness, stating that if 1 would forgive her she would pay me £40," 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 her above in Christeliureh. He gave her some money, but later was arrested on a charge of failing to provide, 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 live years respectively, returned home at 10 p.m. together, 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-respondent. "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) wliose marriage with Arthiuj, R. Carter, a garage proprietor, Victoria "Street, was the subject of a docroe. _nisi,; granted On We uSual terms and with costs against the respondent. The petitioner, a prepossessing young stated that in November 1916,: trouble with another woman caused trouble with her husband. He stated that h'e was leaving for Australia, but a court order of '6O/- a week for maintenance was seemed. She called weekly for her maintenance at the garage where he lived. Her suspicions being aroused she kept watch on the place and saw her husband enter with a girl, and did not see them leave. Following the evidence of petitioner's father, Frederick Gulliv'er-Cradwic.k, 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 j legal desertion sufficient for grounds of' divorce, by means of fraud, was made in the case of Mary Louisa Taylor, the petitioner, against Albeit V. Taylor, the respondent. Mr Donnelly, who appeared for the petitioner who applied'for •a 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 re-1 sumed relations ou legal advice to prevent divorce, and once more was leaving her. Mr Donnelly quoted an Australian case in support of the legal point raised - as to cohabitation by fraud. Mary Louisa Taylor gave evidence rcgfjfcding her marriage. She lived witli her husband in Christchurch 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 thai he 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 bv 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 at Christchurch with her husband until 1913, when one child was born. Her husband said he was going to the Cass to work, and left her. Slio found this was untrue, and saw him later. He said that he had found the girl he loved. She interviewed the girl in question, who said she loved the respondent too well to let him go. Her husband admitted misconduct. She had often seen hirii with this girl who lived at Marshland with parents. Respondeat boarded

Frank O'Council, an inquiry agent, said that he served the 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 Sour (Mr Alpers), who alleged desertion on the part, of John dames be Sour. It was stated the parties lived for a space in Christehureh, where one child was born. Then an interval of separation followed whilst respondent worked successively on the ' West Coast, Pahnerston North, and later at Te Kuiti, where he was in the employ of his brother aswi hairdresser and tobacconist. He left as described in June .1010. The petitioner's evidence was corroborated by a sister, Agnes Wilson. x\ decree nisi was granted with costs and custody of the child. 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 1913, 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 tne Magistrate's Court from the respondent. The petitioner then related how on the night of April 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, wasssuspecteds spected of being within. Further particulars of the Oxford Hotel incident were given by Lieut. Everard Percy Gray, a brother of the petitioner. lie went, inside with a returned soldier named Dalziel, aud eonfirmed the presence of a woman in Bowen'a 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.