CURATE'S EFFIGY BURNT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 301, 13 May 1913, Page 7

CURATE'S EFFIGY BURNT.

DIVORCED AFTER GAOL. HYPOCRITICAL NOTE. London, May 1. Sir S. Evans granted a, decree nisi to Mrs. Matilda Green, of West Bromwich, because of the cruelty and misconduct of Iter husband, Herbert Josiah Green, a cleric in holy orders. There was no defence. Mrs. Green stated that she was married in November, 1903, and lived at Shaldon, Devon. Her husband had been a student for the Weslevan ministry, and later became a student for the Church of England. "He told me," she declared, "that he had been accepted for orders by the Bishop of Exeter on a forged testimonial." During her married life, she continued, her husband was violent towards her at times. When her child was born he made no provision for the occasion, and she lacked food and almost everything. REMARKABLE LETTER. Afterwards they lived at various places, including Station road, Burslem, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Wallsend, and Old Dalby, Leicestershire. At Burslem Mr. Green stayed away all night, and wrote the following letter:—"My dear Vicar, — I now fully confess to you my unfaithfulness to my wife with your servant. It was my intention to return home last night, but I met your maid, and she persuaded me to slay away the night. I repeatedly refused—held out until I could hold out no longer—-and we went to Birmingham together. I wsjs unfaithful, and paced the room from two o'clock to eight. Never before have I spent such a period of mental agony; Can you forgive me really? I pray you do. lam unworthy, and what you can do for me I cannot think. If you, for my wife, can forgive me, it will be a ray of light in my darkness." "To his several qualities." said the President, "he Las added that of being a first-rate hypocrite." Mrs. Green added that when they were at Old Dalby, feeling against her husband became so strong that he ran away, and his effigy was burnt on the village green. On April 10, 11)10, lie was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. Dorothy Phillips, who was in the employment of the Greens at Burslem, said:

"I had on]}' boon there two days, and there was a quarrel because Mr. Green would not {rive Mrs. Green any money. There was nothing in the house that day. Of course, [ stopped and listened, because I was so annoyed to hear a person used such violent language." "What became of the man after he left prison?" enquired the President. "I believe he went abroad," replied counsel. . A decree nisi, with costs and custody of the child, was granted.