UNDEFENDED DIVORCE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21411, 1 March 1935, Page 7

UNDEFENDED DIVORCE

CASE OF LADY WALERAN RECALLED EVIDENCE AT AUCKLAND 'PEESS ASSOCIATIOS TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, February 28. The name of the second Baron Waleran, who from 1927 to 1930 was second secretary to Sir Charles Fergusson, Governor-General of New Zealand, was mentioned in a divorce petition before Mr Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court. The evidence showed that Lord Waleran divorced Lady Waleran last year in London on account of a man who was the respondent in, the case before his Honour. The petitioner was Muriel Bates Hoys, who sought a divorce from Rex Morley Hoyes on the ground of his misconduct. The petition was undefended. Mrs Hoyes said she was married in June, 1925. and in December, 1932, she and her husband left New Zealand for London. He had to go there on business, and it was their intention to return to New Zealand when that business was completed. They lived together in London until August, 1933, when her husband went to America with Lord and Lady Waleran. Her husband returned with Lady Waleran; but she had not seen him since. The witness produced a letter written to her by her husband in December, 1933, and said that the "Pat" referred to in it was Lady Waleran. R. H. Mackay, solicitor for the petitioner, produced a certified copy of a decree nisi granted by the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice, London, on May 17, 1934. It stated that Lord Waleran obtained a divorce from Lady Waleran on the ground of her misconduct with Rex Morley Hoyes. The witness said he knew Hoyes, and was able to swear that he was the person referred to in the record. He was either in Minorca or in London at the present time. The petitioner, recalled, said she was in London at the time of these divorce proceedings, and knew as a fact that her husband was the corespondent in them. His Honour issued a decree, to be made absolute after three months, and allowed costs on the highest scale.