DIVORCE CASES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 9

DIVORCE CASES.

Undefended Petitions Heard in Supreme Court. DECREES NISI GRANTED. A number of undefended petitions for divorce were heard in the Supreme Court, before his Honor Mr Justice Adams, to-day. Irene Walker sought a divorce from William Edward Walker on the grounds of desertion. The petitioner stated that the parties were married on December 25, 1915, at Woolston, England. They lived at Bournemouth, and later came to New Zealand. There were two children of the marriage. Her husband left her in 1926 and she had not seen him since. A decree nisi was granted, petitioner being given interim custody of the children. The petition of Lillian Mihi Forbes for divorce from Sydney Hirst Forbes on the grounds of desertion succeeded, petitioner being granted a decree nisi. Amelia Ellen Fitzgerald’s petition for divorce from John Fitzgerald was based on the grounds of desertion. She stated that they were married in a Roman Catholic Presbytery in 1925. There were two children of the marriage. A decree nisi was granted, petitioner being granted interim custody of the children. Henry Frank Elliott sought a divorce from Kate Irene May Elliott on the grounds that his wife was an inmate of an institution. Medical evidence supported petitioner’s claim. A decree nisi was granted. Doris Alice Rachel Walsh petitioned for divorce from Harold Vernon Walsh on the grounds that an agreement of separation had remained in force. Petitioner stated that the marriage took place at the Registrar’s Office, Christchurch, on June 20, 1924, but the parties did not live together. They had agreed before their marriage to live apart. Petitioner went to England with her parents a short time after the marriage, and had remained there until recently. She returned to New Zealand to take out the proceedings for divorce. There was one child. A decree nisi was granted. Petitioner was given custody of the child. Adultery was the grounds put forward by Lucy Driscoll, who sought a divorce from Arthur Driscoll. Petitioner said that the parties were married on January 2, 1929, at Chistchurch, where they lived. The woman named in the petition had visited petitioner’s husband in petitioner’s cottage. The woman and petitioner’s husband were often together. Samuel Robert William Smith stated that he had worked at the Hei Hei Settlement for the woman named in the petition. On at least six occasions witness had observed acts of familiarity between her and the respondent. A decree nisi was granted. Margaret Evelyn Sprott sought a divorce from Herbert Myles Sprott on the grounds of desertion. The parties were married at Ghristchurch in October, 1928. After the marriage petitioner went into domestic service, her husband going to live with his mother at Belfast. A fortnight after the marriage witness saw her husband off at the Christchurch Railway Station, when he left for the North Island, where he said he was going to work. A few days later petitioner received a letter and that was the last she had heard from her husband. There was one child of the marriage, which had died soon after birth. A decree nisi was granted. Mabel Beatrice Dawe petitioned for divorce from Albert Dawe on the grounds that a deed of separation had remained in force since December, 1926. The case was adjourned, pending the production of further documents. George Henry Bowden, a baker, of Wanganui, was granted a decree nisi on his petition for divorce from Elizabeth Bowden, which was based on the grounds that his wife was an inmate of an institution. Phineas Hollander petitioned for a divorce from Rachel Hollander on the grounds o ffailure to comply with a decree for the restitution of conjugal rights. Petitioner stated that the parties were married in August 28, 1929. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute after three months.