DIVORCE COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2856, 22 August 1916, Page 9

DIVORCE COURT

VARIOUS UNDEFENDED PETITIONS. Mr. Justice Edwards presided at the Supreme Court yesterday momiug and dealt with a number of undefended petitions in divorce. In her plea for a dissolution of her marriage with William Redden, described as a contractor, Helen Redden, for whom Mr. T. 11. Wilford appeared, alleged desertion. According to the evidence" tendered the parties wero married in 1901), and lived together until 1911. The respondent was in the habit of backing horses, and when remonstrated with by tiie petitioner over the money lost, he smashed everything on the mantelpiece with a stick, and cleared out of the house. Petitioner summoned him for maintenance, but on respondent giving her ,£2 and promising weekly payments of ,£l, she withdrew the summons. The respondent made only two weekly payments of Jil each. After further evidence in corroboration of the allegations of desertion, His Honour granted a decree nisi, lo be made nbsohito in three months, with costs on the lowest scale against respondent. Mr. ft. i\ O'Lenry appeared for Edith

Alice Wiggins, who sought a divorce from John Eu.jh Wiggins on tne ground of misconduct. In her evidence the petitioner stated that she was married to the respondent in 1903, and there was one child of tlio marriage. Just after Easter of this year petitioner loft respondent on account of his misconduct with another woman. Other witnesses gave evidence as to misconduct. His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, interim custody of the child to bo given to tlio petitioner, and costs on the lowest scale. James Moss, who was represented by Mr. T. M. Wilford, petitioned for a divorce from Alice Moss on the ground of her misconduct' with Henry George Keyse, a barman on the s.s. Eemuera. The petitioner stated that he was married to respondent in 190G, at Manchester, in England, and lie came to New Zealand in 1912. 1 It was arranged that respondent was to follow as soon as he was ready for her. Petitioner .sent -for respondent in 1914, and she finally came out on the Remuera. He gave particulars of suspicious circumstances, and finally -obtained written confessions of misconduct from the respondent and the corespondent. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months, with costs on. the lower scale ngainst co-respondent. . Mr. T. M. Wilford appeared for May Moore, who petitioned for a divorce from James Alfred Moore on. the plea of habitual drunkenness and failure to maintain. ' The parties were married, in 1908, and had lived together at different periods for about four years. The respondent was, the petitioner alleged, addicted to drink, and when he did earn money lie failed to maintain her. Since the.marriage he had only maintained her for about a year. Petitioner obtained a maintenance order against the respondent about four years ago, and again last year. After hearing evidence in support of the petitioner, His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, with costs on the lower scale against the respondent. r Joseph Donnelly, represented by Mr. 'f l .- M. Wilford, sought a dissolution of his marriage with Elinor May Donnelly, ffhomas or Hugh M'Kerney being joined as co-respondent, on the grounds of desertion and misconduct. In his evidence petitioner stated that lie and respondent lived at Cass' for some years. He went shearing in Australia,, and left the respondent in charge of their store. While in Australia he got a letter from respondent in which she admitted misconduct. He returned to New Zealand, and after making inquiries traced his wife, to Whangamomona. She then again admitted having misconducted herself. Petitioner later met the co-respondent in Christchurch, when he gave him a sound thrashing, and was fined for it in the Magistrate's Court. He had not since seen anvthine of his wife. His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be made 'absolute ill three months, with costs again:!: the co-respondent.