ATHLETES’ DIVORCE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1934, Page 9

ATHLETES’ DIVORCE

MORGAN CASE CONTINUED NORMA MORGAN GIVES EVIDENCE. CO-RESPONDENT’S ALLEGATIONS. INCIDENTS ON RAILWAY STATION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The divorce action between Edward Morgan, petitioner, and his wife, formerly Norma Wilson, both of whom participated in the 1928 Olympic Games, was resumed to-day. All the evidence was heard and the judge will sum up to-morrow. Jack Alexander Thomas, Hastings, gave evidence that Mrs. Morgan was staying the night at his place, where Rangi Marsh, jockey, named as . corespondent, was boarding. Mrs. Morgan slept with Thomas’ wife and Thomas slept in Marsh’s room with Marsh. There was absolutely no opportunity of Mrs. Morgan and Marsh committing misconduct at Thomas’ home that night. Mrs. Morgan gave evidence that her husband saw her at the Napier races and said he had met her father and showed him the paper she had signed. He said he had asked her father not to take her back home. “Ted accused me of all the things on the paper,” said Mrs. Morgan, “and adultery with Marsh, but I denied it.” Morgan, she said, then had said, “How about forgetting all about it and coming back;” She declined. Her father had said, “If you are like this now, what will it be like in a few years?” She told her mother what had happened and then saw a solicitor. Proceedings for separation and maintenance were taken by Mrs. Morgan, who alleged cruelty. After those proceedings terminated divorce papers were served on her at Gisborne. EVIDENCE OF MARSH. The co-respondent, Marsh, in evidence said he first met Morgan on the Hastings railway station. The first thing Morgan said was, “Do you want to marry this girl?” Marsh took it as a joke and said, “Oh, I wouldn’t mind.” Morgan produced a pen and papers which he asked Marsh to sign. He refused and Morgan said, “Won’t you?” and “cracked” him. His Honour: We have had two versions. What did he do? Marsh: He punched me on the side of the jaw. Mrs. Morgan said, “Don’t make a scene hes 3.” Morgan got me bailed in a corner and asked me to sign. I refused. Both convinced me they had been to a lawyer at Wellington and wanted to divorce one another. . I didn’t want to sign and Morgan said, ‘lf you don’t sign you won’t be alive to tell the tale.’ Mr. A. J. Mazengarb (counsel for Marsh):, What is your weight?—About 7.7. Marsh said Morgan was parading before him and, more to get away from him than anything else, he signed. Mr. C. H. Arndt (appearing for Morgan): You want us to believe that Morgan punched you?—Yes, I do; You want us to believe that you were punched on the jaw by a man whom your cormsei has described as the champion welterweight of the world?—l felt like that, anyhow. His Honour: Have you and Mrs. Morgan ever discussed the question of her getting a divorce and marrying you?— No. Has there ever been any, shall I say, “sweethearting” between you?—No. The judge will sum up to-morrow morning.