STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 201, 4 May 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

STRANGER THAN FICTION.

This story sounds more like a story in 'fiction tlum in real life, lmt there is a saying that "Truth is stranger than fiction." So said Mr Shearman, K.C., in the Divorce Court on March 6, in opening a case, which proved one of the most remarkable that ha,ve come before the courts for many years. It was a cross suit. Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Wilhelmina Waite petitioned for a restitution of conjugal rights, a-nd her husband, Mr William M. Waite, a Liverpool provision broker, cross petitioned for a dissolution of his marriage, alleging misconduct between his wife and Dr Arthur Richard Hopper, against whom damages were claimed. The allegation of misconduct was denied. The husband's petition was taken first, and Mr Shearman, in opening, said the marriage took place in 1894, and until 1900 the parties lived fairly happily together. The lady had no children. A specialist waseonsulted, and on the advice of the specialist Dr Hopper became her medical attendant. In September and October, 1901, Mr Waite was away on business in America, leaving his wife in England, and evidence would be given that during that time she was often alone with Dr Hopper. On Mr Waited return the wife declined to occupv the same room with him. Tn July, 1902, Mr Waite, much to his astonishment, received a letter from Dr Hopper, stating tbat the wife's lungs were affected, and advising that she should go away either to Biarritz or Arcachon. It was arranged that she should go first to Arcachon and afterwards to Cambo-3es-Batas. j During her absence an affectionate correspondence passed between husband and wife, and the former sent her presents. When, however, Mr Waite wanted to spend Christmas with his wife, she wrote in November, 1902: "Do not come at Christmas. Tt would take you more than a week coming and going, and would be upsetting for me, as I should not want to stay afterwards" Consequently Mr Waite remained at home. On ' Christmas night, 1902. Mrs Waite. unknown to her husband, gave birth to a child, which she registered in the name of Hose Marie. In the following February she desired to return home, and the husband went to fetch her back, In. the meantime the child had been sent to England. It would be understood, under the circumstances, said counsel, that Mrs Waite did not wish her husband to go to Cambo-les-Bains, where people believed the child had been bora in lawful wedwock. She therefore suggested tbat be should join her at Bayonne. where eventually they met. The husband naturally wanted to see the place where she had been staying, but although they drove round to various places, there was always some excuse made for not going to Cambo-les-Bains. After that they returned to England. BnorrniT to the home. Tito following suggestion was made by the wife in one of her letters:—"l shall be sorry to lose dear old Punch (a dog), but T do not seem to hanker after another dog. f think a baby would be much nicer and more satisfying. We are very unlucky with our dogs." After the return home the wife suggested that, as they had no children, it would be an excellent thing to adopt a child. She said she bad heard of a little girl who might be adopted—a child whom Dr Hopper knew all about. The husband consented, and the child was brought home one day —a baby girl, who was baptised under the name of Rose Marie, the parents being described a« "unknown." Thus she succeeded in introducing into her own house, and to the a (lection of her husband, her own child. Evidence would be given of the extraordinary affection which she lavished ion this child. When the child was five years old she died of spinal disease, and so passed out of this case. Both Mr and Mrs Waite were fond of the child, and

in the (loath register it was described as their own child. After the death Mrs AVaite's conduct towards her husband (continued counsel) became abominable. She declined to occupy the «mc room, and would walk out when he came in. Xor would she dine in the same room with him. Matters became «o intolerable that ~SU- Waito closed the home and made his wife an allowance. SECOND CHILD ADOPTED. "Air Waito, a grey-haired man, in his evidence, said his wife's story wsvs that the father of the child died in South Africa, the mother having died at childbirth, and that the doctor had taken the child from a poor woman who had adopted it. as she was too poor to keep it. After the child's death, witness thought it would be a good thing to adopt another child.- but his wife's attitude was quite different, and she had no affection for the second child. The court granted the decree asked for.