SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20042, 3 September 1920, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

IN DIVORCE. The sittings of »he Supreme Court in divorce, before his Honor Mr Justice Hcrdman, \Vbre continued to-dny. John- Fisher Van der Veen, railway Christeburoh, petitioned for divorce. trom Elizabeth Ann Van der Veen on the grounds of adultery. John .Douglass Prebble, driver. Christchurch, was named as co-respondent. The case was lieard before the Judge and a jury nf twelve. Mr J. R. Cunjnghnni ap» geared for 'petitioner, Mr C. S- Thomas tor respondent, and Mr 0. T. J. Alpers for co-respondent. Tho parties were married on June 17, 1908, in Christchurch. Petitioner alleged that respondent had been living with co-respondent since August, 1919. There axo three children by tho marriage, eleven, ten and eight years of age. Mr Cuninghnm said that tho partieß lived in Christchurch, Lyttelton and Cheltenham, Victoria. Petitioner left with an Australian reinforcement foi tlto war, served in Gallipoli and in France, and on returning to Australia found that his wife had sold up everyUihiti !>»rt had tiuine with t| ie children to live in Innes Road, St Albans. In Mio house with her there were an old woman and a young man, co-respon-dent, fcjhe said that co-respondent had lived with hor in two other houses in Christchurch. After petitioner was discharged in Australia, in October, 1918, he came to Christchurch again, and found his wife and co-respondent living together, with the children, in Victon Avenue.' Riccarton. They shifted from house to house, co-respondent following respondent to no fewer than six houses. Peti.tionet, in reply to Mr Thomas, *>aid that when he was married he was thirty-seven years of age, qnd respondent whs twentj. Ellen Mabel"White (petitioner's sister), Horace Joseph Jacobferi and Bert William Munns (private inquiry agent), I gavo evidence for the petitioner. Mr Thomas said that respondent had I had to take in children from the Receiving Home in Christchurch. She took in co-respondent as a lodger, when he was only sixteen years of age, and ho had remained with her. Petitioner suffered from shell-shock in the war, was not normal when he returned, was nervous, and exaggerated things. Respondent said' that her troubles with her husband began in financial matters, not in her relationships with co-respondent. H c was an orphan, and she treated him as a mother wouldThere was no familiarity whatever between them. WELLINGTON. {Veh Pukss Association.] WELLINGTON, September 3. Before the Chief Justfce to-day Mrs C. E. Mackay, of Wanganui, war granted a divorce from her husband on the pounds of adultery. The case was heard in camera.