SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 48, 21 November 1918, Page 7

SUPREME COURT

DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS. Bis Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) presided at a short sitting of the Divoreo Court yesterday. The first enso heard was a petition by Jessie Ai'Ketizio Hill tor a dissolution ot lier nuirriago with Frederick Charles Hill on the ground of adultery- The circumstances of the case were that as a result of inquiry at the institution ot petitioner, it was discovered ,th"t respondent had kept company with unothor woman in Wellington, staying at various times at hotels. A decree nisij to bo made absolute m three months, was granted with costs on the lowest scale, ' The petitioner was granted custody of the one child of the marriage. •Jessie Louisa, Jlolop sought dissolution of her marriage witn t'rnncis Rudolph Hotop on the grounds of habitual drunkenness and ill-treatment. Petitioner stated .that respondent commenced drinking half an hour after their marringo in 1911. When they arrived at their home- the same day he was drunk. A removal was mado to the South Island, when nfier a period ho again commenced drinking. There ho several times ill-trented ; hor, hocessitating medical attention. He was in camp for some time, but was "inter give>. leave without nay. A-practice was acquired on the Wq'st Coast, wlioro he commenced drinking, chiefly methylated spirits, .after the first week. Ho on several occasions assaulted her violently, and :-hn had to take refuge in. a neighbour's house. Petitioner invariably attended her husband's when her husband was drunk. Her husband would never giv'e lier an allowance, and she had to sell 'various thfngs to get nway. _Evidence was also given by petitioner's sifter, • '

A decree nisi was granted, to be niacin absolute in three months. Costs and wil.ness"sV expovfe." were allowed. . Mr. K. Twynclwm, of ChriM church, appeared for' petitioners in each cast.-.