PETITION REFUSED,

West Coast Times, Issue 11278, 28 April 1899, Page 2

PETITION REFUSED,

[PEESS ASSOCfATION) •Wellington, April 27. Judge Edwards to-day gave judgment n the divorce case Dawson v Dawson, which His Honor recently hoard when on bhe circuit of the West Coast, South [sland. The case presented peculiar circnm3tances'; Petitioner claimed his wife > passed a week in the hut of co-respondent and he committed adultery. His Honor aaid ordinarily the fact that a married woman passed a week in a hut, containing one room only, with a man, not her husband, must lead to the conclusion she was guilty of adultery, but some circumstances in the case were extraordinary. Evidence showed for some time prior to Sepceinber, 1897, respondent had given way to intemperance and that petitioner took no means %o secure her safety, His Honor was satisfied that if anything improper "took place in the hut the woman was nob in a fib state to be conscioukof it, and that her husband left her there with the hope and intention she; would commit adultery and turuish him with the means of procuring a divorce. • If adultery had been proved the petitioner must have been' field fcdWve connived at it. The petition was dismissed with costs o£ petitioner and respondent j iLslE>etween solicitor and . client, taxed by the Begis* trar at Hokitika. '"'"'' .* £25 was allowed to the co-respondent, ~ with costs and all Court fees and wit* "" .nesses' expenses.