THIRTEEN CHILDREN. A CURIOUS CASE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14011, 16 September 1909, Page 4

THIRTEEN CHILDREN. A CURIOUS CA SE.

Edward Coulter (for whom Mr. T. S. Weston appeared) applied for a divorco from his wife, Eugenic Beatrice Coolter, on the ground of desertion. There was no appearance of respondent. Petitioner stated that he lived at Waitara. There were thirteen children that he knew of by the marriage. H wife left him on May 11, 1904. She left entirely of her own free will, going by the steamer Kia Ora to Kawhia. She took the chjldreri'i- \hole had foi|n,VJ tbaf Jijji xnfe and family had gone on to Rotor un. Then he waited developments. He thought they would soon get "broke," and write for money, of come back to him, but had beard nothing of them. His Honour: Well, you don't seem to hare troubled lyourself much, CoulPetitjoner : Well, your H&neur, they didn't trouble about me much, and it came to this—^that it was no good me rushing over the country looking foi* her when I didn't know where to look for her. His Honour (smilingly) : I should think a woman with thirteen children could be easily recognised. Petitioner : They don't take up much room, your Honour. His Honour: I should think they would. Mr. WestOn asked witness if ho knowwhy hit wife left him. Witness;,, I &>n't know, tin loss she w-aa superstitious. She "had her fortune told'a'fbw months before she loft. and she may' have gone away to find her fortune.' His Honour: She doesn't seem to i have found it. Coulter, continuing, said that when he left home one morning (he drove a 'bus between Waitara and, Now Plymouth,), the children ' wire being got ready iox, school. When he roturnod the whole family had gone. The grate was filled with burnt paper, as though a lot of letters had been burned. His Honour: She may have burned your love-letters. Petitioner: Oh. wall, she h*d none of those. jw>ut Honour. His Honour: That may have lieen why she left. Coulter added that all the clothes in the house had been taken. When he got back home that night he got no tea. Hit Honour: That seems to bo of more importance than the loss of thirteen children.

Charles Hugli Ktolt. morehiinl :nu .shipping agent sit W.ntiirii, ie: t'i'.i licred having issued a ticUct uu M.n 11. iyO». tor a ".Mis. Smith' .ma tiul dren. He ulterwards lound tlmt " -Mr--Smitli" was ilrs. Coulter. Arthur \Y. Ogle, chemist. W.nt.'ra gave corroborative evidence rega. iling Mrs. Coultei's depariuro A decree nisi \\ a > gi anted. '-»> '» made absolute in three niontbb.