DENNISTOUN CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 13 March 1925, Page 5

DENNISTOUN CASE.

THE DIVORCE QUESTION. COLLUSION ALLEGED. I’ress Association—Electric Telegraph—CopyrigU LONDON, Thursday. At tlio resumption of the hearing of the Dennistoun ease, Mr Justice McOardie immediately sought to clear up the question of Dennistoun’s French (1 omiiciie. The Judge: Do you say the dissolution of the marriage was invalid? If so, you see the consequences regarding the marriage of Donnistoun and Lad}' Carnarvon. Sir Edwin Marshall-IIall: It is for your Honour to' decide. I submit that Dennistoun’s acceptance of a French domicile was collusive, in order .to enable his wife to obtain a divorce. His Honour: That raises the graver issue whether Dennistoun is Lady Carnarvon's husband. iCounsel: Not as a direct issue, but the decision may carry inferential consequences-. His Honour: “You must say what you think in respect to the validity of the divorce. Counsel: For the purpose of this case, I admit the validity of Dennistoun’s divorce. His Honour (with surprise): For purposes of this case? Having regard to the family (interests involved, and also Mrs Dennistoun’s desire to re-marry, it is important that we should know the points which may arise at the termination of this case. You think it over. •Mr Birkett, counsel for Dennistoun, then addressed the court. He said the jury would ask why the case was defended; why, when a payment by Lady Carnarvon of probably less than the case was costing her would have averted the daily anguish of seeing columns in the newspapers. She had decided to fight the case, because the answer was that no case or legal claim existed.

Counsel said Dennistoun denied any promise or agreement. Mrs Dennistoun admitted misconduct with Cowans and Bolin, and also that she was an expectant mother early in 3921. Could they imagine Dennistoun agreeing 1o her marrying Bolin, and also promising to support her? Plaintiff’s dramatic declaration that there was a cold, calculating bargain whereby she paid the price of her husband’s preferment, would be utterly denied. It was precious poor preferment to be made a major in a Labour Corps, tiers was an incredible version.

■Counsel said it was merely a ease of an impetuous, pleasure-loving wife, beyond the control of a husband who was lamentably weak to let the matter go. If there was an agreement, it was implied that thereafter she should live a chaste life, which she had not. The case was adjourned.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS. (Received Friday, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Thursday. Fryzer, Dennistoun’s solicitor, crossexamined, stated that Dennistoun settled £IOO,OOO on Lady Carnarvon at the marriage, the interest wheron was payable to husband and wife according to the trustees’ discretion. He also said that the .sum of £BOOO bequeathed to Dennistoun by his father had been placed at witness's disposal to meet the costs of the present case. Hume Williams: “Lady Carnarvon provides Dennistoun with £IOO,OOO, which the day before the marriage he ties up by .settlement. If plaintiff gets the verdict she could not touch that money ? ’ ’ Witness; “No.” —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.