SEQUEL TO DIVORCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 3

SEQUEL TO DIVORCE.

CLAIM FOR MOTOR-CAR. The ownership of b motor-car used by the family before divorce proceedings was contested in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, when Frank Dixon, a stock dealer (Mr M. J- Greason) sued his wife, Mary Ann Dixon (Mr A. T. Donnelly) for possession. The car was valued at £l6O. His Honor Mr Justice Herdman, was on tho bench. Mr Gresson said that the parties had been Indore the Court on previous occasions. In the present case the question of furniture had been agreed upon. The only matter in dispute was the ownership of a Ford motor-car valued -at £l5O. It would nrobably be claimed that the husband had made a gift of the car to his wife, but it would be for the defence to prove delivery by deed or delivery under such circumstances as would lead tho Court to infer that a gift was intended. At tho settlement in connection with divorce proceedings no mention was made of the motor-car being Airs Dixon's. Tho plaintiff gave evidence relating to the purchase of the motor-car. Up till tho time of differences between his wife and himself, tho car had been used by the whole family. In an attempted settlement before the divorce proceedings he had agreed to make a B resent of the motor-car to his wife, c had never made a gift of the car to his wife. James H. Cassidv. solicitor, said that he had interviewed Mrs Dixon on behalf of her husband. She Imd not claimed ownership of tho motor-car or the furniture. Air Donnelly said that tho defence was that the car had been bought by plaintiff as a present for his wife, who had been in had health at'the time. The defendant, Alary Ann Dixon, said that she had regarded the car as her own, and that her husband very seldom used it. 0. T. J. Alpers. solicitor, said that he had acted for Airs Dixop before and in the divorce proceedings. Airs Dixon had always insisted that she owned the motor-car and the furniture. After further evidence had been heard, his Honor held that the motorcar belonged to the plaintiff, and an order would be made to that effect with costs on the. lowest scale,