DIVORCE COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 137, 5 March 1919, Page 6

DIVORCE COURT

' UNDEFENDED CASES His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman presided at the Supreme Court yesterday and heard several divorce cases, in, whicli there was no defence offered. Ellen Ann Hill, for whom Mr. 11. F. O'Leary appeared, sought a dissolution of her marriage with George Alexander Hill on the ground of desertion. The parties were married on June 13, 1911. The petitioner had to leave her husband a year later because he would not maintain her. She took proceedings and obseparation order. She had received no mainteuaiice from the respondent during the past seven years. His Honour granted a decree nisi, to be juade absolute in three months. Margaret Micklo sought a dissolution of her marriage with Ernest G. Mieklo on the ground of desertion. _ Mr. E. P. :Bimny appeared for the petitioner, who stated in her evidence that she married the respondent in 1900 and lived with him for about twelve years. His couduct towards her during that time was cruel. Ho had been drinking heavily, and two prohibition orders were issued against him.-,' Tho petitioner was deserted by her husband in 1913, when he went to Australia. Sho had received no. maintenance since, and had supported herself arid two children. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months.

A decree nisi, to bo made absolute in three months, was granted Catherine Maud Gehrig, who sought a dissolution of her marriage with George Joseph Gehrig on. the grounds of desertion. Mr. P. AY. Jackson appeared for the petitioner, who stated in her evidence that she was married to tho respondent on March 29, 1906, at Christchurch. While they were living in Christchurch her bus- ■ band was a hotclkeepcr, and deserted her in 1912. She had not seen or heard of him since. She had maintained herself ever since. There were no children of tho marriage. ■ Mr. M. F; Luckio appeared for Fanny Beatrice Hedley, who petitioned for a dissolution of her marriage with Thomas T. Hedley on the ground of descrtiqn. Tho parties were married at Wellington on Stay 26. 1902, and there were two children. Tho respondent was convicted of an offence in Palmerston North, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. He deserted the petitioner in February, 1905, and she lind since earned her own living and supported her two children. A decree nisi was'granted, to be made I absolute in three months.

Kathleen AYnrd sought a dissolution of her marriage with William Joseph Ward on the. ground of misconduct with a Maori girl. Mr. P. AV. .Tackson appeared for the petitioner, who stated in evidence Hint she was married to the respondent on April 13, 1909, at Karangahake. There wna one child of the marriage, AVliile living at Waihi a little over three years ago her husband left her and went to Tβ Kniti to obtain work. During tho first, two months he was away he Bent her 50?., but since then she had received nothing from him. rilio weist to Te Kuiti and made inquiries, and was told by the sergeant of police that a warrant was out for his arrest in respect to the maintenance of his illegitimate child. She saw respondent wner at Taumiirnnui, and asked him what he intended doing for herself and child. Ho did nothing. Ho was subsi-quently r.rrested and an affiliation order was made against him at To Awamntu. A decree nisi was granted, to bo made absuluto in three months. Misconduct was the ground on winch. Blanche East sought a dissolution of her marriage with Stanley Mr. P. AV. Jackson appeared for the petitioner. 'Iho parties were married in Christchurch on October 15, 1908, and lived in Christchureh, Wellington, and Auckland. AVjiile in the northern city the parties lived apart, tho petitioner with relatives and tlio respondent: with a married couple. The petitioner discovered that the respondent had become unduly familiar with the landlady, and when taxed with it he admitted it. She had since seen them together in Wellington. A decree nisi was granted, to bo made absolute in three months.

A returned soldier named Walter Pμcivnl Curler sought a dissolution of Ins marriage with Jessie Cutter on (he ground of misconduct. Tho parties were uiarried at Otaki on March 15,. 1906, ai.d there were seven children. The petitioner left New Zealand on April 2, 1916, »ml returned on October 8, 1918. His wife failed to meet him when lie return-: ed. but ho saw her tho same evening, when she said she would not go back and live with him. He saw her several times afterwards, but she was of tho samo mind. He kept a special watch on her, and on December 7 he saw certain things which made him tax her with misconduct. At first, she denied the accusation, but later admitted Iho offence. Corroborative evidence having been given, His Honour granted ft decree nisi, to be mittlo absolute in three months. Mr. P. W. J'Kckeon appeared for the petitioner.