FAMILY DESERTED BY WIFE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1927, Page 9

FAMILY DESERTED BY WIFE

PETITION 'FOR DIVORCE REFUSED. NO- APPEAL TO WOMAN TO RETURN By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. In the petition for divorce by Henry Richard McGarry against Emily McGarry on the ground of desertion, Mr. Justice. Reed held that the evidence was not sufficient. The parties were married in Ireland and lived at Philadelphia, U.S.A., in Ireland, and again in America, and then in New Zealand. There were eight children. Petitioner, an Irishman, said he had been sleeping in a shed attached to the house (at Waikino), and had not lived with his wife for the last five years. She had recently left him altogether, and he had had to support the family alone. He was not sure whether he had written to his wife asking her to return, but he possessed letters from respondent in wliieh she stated that she would not live with him. His Honour said the letters should have been produced. The mere fact that people did not live together did not, in itself, constitute grounds for divorce. The only course now was for petitioner to write an affectionate letter to his wife asking her to return. If she refused, proceedings for divorce could be taken on the ground of restitution of conjugal rights. There was nothing definite in the case at present.