DIVORCE PETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 222, 7 June 1918, Page 7

DIVORCE PETITIONS

——* LONG LIST OF UNDEFENDED CASES

His Honour Mr. Justico Ho.skiiig heard a number of undefended eases in tho Divorce Court yesterday. Mayriclc v. Mayrick. William Henry Muyrick (My. I'. W. .Tackson) applied for a dissolution of his marriage with Lona Mayrick. Petitioner, who is a soldier on homo service, was worried in March, 1915, and at ihat timo was a dining-car attendant on the "New Zealand Railways. He alleged misconduct on tho part of his wife with a, sailor named Percy Wood, a seaman on a warship. A degree nisi was granted, which may bo made alisnluLo iu three nionlhs. Cn.Os amounting to JCIS weio allowed against tho co-respondent. 'Barber v. Barber. Francis Harbor, fur whom Mr. V. W. Jackson appeared, sought a divjree from Violet Barber, whom he married on l'i'byiiiiry 2H, 1913, at Wellington. Petit ionor said ho was a labourer, and lmd one child, which was born in 1914. Ho Mt Now Zealand with the Slain .Body, and returned in May, 1017. His wife drew his allotment until after ha left Gallipoli, wben ho had the payments .stopped. While on active service ho received a letter in which his wife niiido admissions of unfaithfulness. Since his return, his wife had confessed misconduct. During his absence xl tho war his wifo gave birth to si child, of which tho.birth certificate showed the father's name io be Hector Vernon Ben. rails, a photographer, who was a returned soldier, and who had been loino-d as co-respondent His Honour made a decree nisi, which may be made absolute sifter Ihreo months, with costs .£25 against co-res-pondent. Wilson v. Wilson. In the csiso of Gordon Krskiuo Wi'.son v. Caroline Wilson, petitioner, "who was represented by Mr. P. W. Jackson, stated that at tbo timo of his marriage at Hunterville, in 1912, he was ;t furmer. He was at present in 'Jauherenikau Camp. His wifo was formerly a widow, and when he married her she was 42 years of ago and ho 28. Three weeks after the marriage, respondent left for Tasmania, where her home was, and she had not returned. Petitioner alleged desertion on the part of his wife. She gave as her reason for not returninc me statement that sho did not want to live in New Zealand. He went to Tasmania three years after the marriage to see his wife, who had means of her own, but did not have- au opportunity of interviewing her. He received letters from her in which sho said she would keeD him if he would go to Tasmania. _ "A man wouldn't do that sort of thing, remarked petitioner, "so I did not go. A decree nisi was granted, which may be made absolute in four months. Graham v. Graham. Nellie A. Graham (Mr. 11. H. Webb) asked for a dissolution of her marriage with Fred. Graham on the ground of misconduct. Tho parties, according to petitioner's evidence, were married at West Ham, fees, on July 18, 1907. Kespondent camo (o New Zealand in November, 1907, petitioner following him in 1908. Her huebund was a marine officer, and sho had found letters from another woman in Ins clothes. They had lived in Wellington for nino years, and there was one child of the marriage, born in 1911. Decree nisi was granted, which may no moved absolute in three months, petitioner to have interim custody of the child. Costs JE2S and disbursements .were given against respondent. Gerard v. Gerard. \nnie Gerard asked that the.bonds of her union with William E. F. Gerard should be severed on the ground ol her hneband'e misconduct. • _ . 3lr. G. Watson appeared for petitioner, who stated that the mawiago loolc placo in September, 1908. Prior to the birth of the second child respondent brutally assaulted her, and she still snfteml from the effects of his ill-treatment. Respondent had wanted her to work when she was in a delicate state of health. He had written to her, telling her that she would find that he had lieen living with another woman. She had ascertained thnfc that was correct. There were two i children of the marriage, but both died "llis intimated that be would give his decision to-day. Thornton v. Thornton. Edward E. J. Thornton, for whom Mr. van Staveren appeared, desired a dissolution of marriage from Beatrice Helen Thornton, the grounds for the action being misconduct. Evidence was given that tho parties were married in the Old Country m May, l<ll3 A week after the marriage petitioner left for New Zealand, respondent coming out later on. When the vessel arrived petitioner went to meet his wife, but she refused to go with him, a - though she offered no reason. > Il? aftcl ' wards saw his wifo in the .street wit Dr. Watson, surgeon of the vessel on which his wifo came to New Zealand. Hespondeut had come out as a matron on the ship. He had noUeen hisjnfo since 1913, but respondent and co-respon-dent had been traced to Australia. \ decree nisi was granted, which may be" made absolute in four months costs .£25 and disbursements being allowed against co-respondent. Pilkington v. Pilkington. _ ! .T'lines P. Pilkington asked that his ma S with Mouni Isabel Pi k.ngton should be dissolved. He alleged desertion as the grounds of the petition. Petitioner, for whom Mr. G. Wfttson •appeared, stated that he was married in 1908. In 1909 his mother-m-law began to cause trouble 'by interfering between him and his wife. On May 17, 1912 his wifo went to Australia, on the understanding that she was to return in three months. His wife had subsequently returned the wedding-ring and ho had not heard of her since. Kespondent could have no reason for not returning to petitioner as , no had been ten years in tho one position and was a total abstainer. A decree nisi was granted, which may be mado absolute in four months. Sequel to Bigamy Case. Lillian Alice Archer (Mr. J. Scott) asked that her marriage with Albert lv. Devine bo annulled. Petitioner said tho marriage was celebrated in August, 191G, respondent tell- ■ iii" petitioner that he was single, bhe had met tho respondent at tne balvutiou Army Hall, where respondent attended the sen-ice. After the marriage she found that respondent was known by (he name of Wigg, and learned that he had iboen married previously. In answer to His Honour, Mr. hcolt si , id the rcspondeut had been sentenced lo" six months' imprisonment for bigamy, of which offence ho pleaded guilty. llis Honour held that the mere fact of a conviction having been entered against respondent was not sufficient proof for him lo nnnul the marriage. The authorities demanded that the pre-vious-marriage must be proved. After hearing further evidence. His Honour ordered the marriage to be- annulled. Sullivan v. Sullivan. Cornelius Sullivan applied for a Aimlution of his niarriogc with Lva (jertrude Sullivan. Ho alleged misconduct (is the reason for the petition. 'Mr. H- 1 , . O'Leary appeared for pcti-, tioner. who said llio miirriagc was celebrated on April 18, 191.1. He was an inspector in the employ of tlio Corporalinn Trinnwnys. Kespondent left him in 1917. She Lacl been addicted to drink, and' was accustomed to stay out late at nights, leaving the children to tako caro of themselves. Petitioner gave evidence as to finding his wifo in ft room with another man name Ernest May at a houso in Garrctt Street. A decree nisi was granted, which may be made absolute within threo months, costs (,£2O) l>ciiiff allowed against corespondent. . Thompson v. Thompson. William Thompson, a ■blacksmith, represented by P. W. Jackson, asked for a feveranco of the marriage bouds with .Mary Thompson, who, he alleged, had deserted him., JVtil ionor said ho wns married on Jiini , '1. I!HW, ot Christchuroli. In IfllO, lio :i ufl his wife took over a boardinghouse in Wellington. His wife ordered liiiu out of Hie house shortly afterwards. He had tried to induco his wife to live with him after she had given up tho

boardinghouse, but without avail, lor soino timo he had lost all t-J'uco of her. A decree nisi was granted, which may bo made absolute- in threo months. WhitaL-cr r. Whitakcr. Annio Harris Whilalcer, who married Walter Henry Whitaker at Wellington in 1898, alleged desertion on the part of her husband as the reason why bio sought tho • marriage, contract to be annulled. Petitioner, for whom Mr. P. W. Jacl;son appeared, staled that re?poudent Ifit her in January, J'JOS, and she had not seen him since. . . Decree nisi was granted, wlncn mar bn made absolute within three months. Petitioner was allowed costs 4:15. and disbursements. Hargreaves v. HargreavM. AVilliam Henry Hargreaves, carrier, r«pre?pnted by Mr. T. S. Wcston, asked for a dissolution of bis marriage with-Minine llargrcuves, whom ho mairied m l'Jo.i, on (ho ground of misconduct. It wi.s sliilrd in evidence by petitioner that his witu hud been currrepoinins with a man named Sadler. Jμ December, 1917. respondent left petitioner. She h-übsequently admitted adultery with .Sadler, wlio is ii. steward on a ferry steamer. Respondent was at present living a. Lyltellon, under the name ot Mr?, fcadler. The Msa was adjourned until to-day in order that another witness may be called to sivn corroborative cviiionce. Kusscll v. Riirscll. Mabel Louisa Eussell petitioned for ft dissolution of her marringo with Joseph Henry Russell, whom she married n London in lOSS. JJcspomlenl was an aocountiint. Misconduct on the part ol iespomleut lvns alleged. Petitioner testified to vrilwfsin? impropriety between respondent and « -"«. Thompson, at Dargaville. Decree nisi was granted, costs XM to lie paid By respondent. M'Cutcheon v. M'Cutchcon. Francis Hugh M'Cutcheon, waterside worker (Mr. H. F. O'Leary) asked for a divorce from Lily M'Cutcheon,. tho grounds of tbo petition being misconduct. William Frederick Cook was joined as co-respondent. Petitioner said he was married in July, 1902, and there were threo children ot tho marriage, two of whom were still living. One night petitioner came home unexpectedly, and found co-respondent and respondent in compromising circumstances. There was a scene and respondent said that she was going away with tho co-respondent. Subsequently, respondent and co-respondent went to l'nlmerston North. Decreo nisi was granted, which nwj be moved absolute within three inont.is, costs _tl2o and disbursements being allowed against co-respondent. Desertion was alleged by Albert Goodman, horse trainer, of Trentham. in his petition for a divorce from Murth <.-ioo_man. , , .. Mr H. F. O'Leary appeared for petitioner, who said he was married on l-en-ruary 22, MM. He had not lived with his wife since June, 1007 Hβ went to the Lower Hutt to live, but she did not want to Btay there. She wanted o return to Arlington, or to K o lu b>4ney. He learned later that she had gone to Sydney, and he had no since heard of her, except a notice lo the effect that his wilo was admitted to hosnital at Sydney in January, 1917. P Decreo nisi was granted, to bo made absoluto in four months. In the cabo of Edward K turneffi, Harbour J3ohid emp oyee (Mi. il. JO'Leary) v. Blanch Furness. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three month-.