THE DIVORCE COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 201, 20 May 1920, Page 6

THE DIVORCE COURT

UNDEFENDED PETITIONS

DECREE NISI IN EACH CASE

Mr. Justice Salmond yesterday heard a number of undefended petitions iu divorce.

Kupert Henry Eastman (Mr. C. H. Treadwell) told His Honour that in 1913 at Wellington he was married to GwendolineMabel Eastman. In 1914 respondent was discontented, and wanted to go into a bigger house. Petitioner let her have her way. Ou account of certain associations she contracted, he thought it best to' send' her to Australia for a time. Later ou sho wanted hotel life, and she was allowed to have it. She left petitioner, however, and went to board with a friend. Petitioner. begged her to return to him, but she said she was in love with nonr> one else, and asked him to let her have .six months to see if she would come to her senses. At an interview he had with her some time afterwards, petitioner received from respondent a definite refusal to return. Petitioner went to tho war, and came back hoping that his wife might live with him; but she begged him to divorce her, and told him candidly she would not live with him again. Corroborative evidence was given by a friend who was present at an interview between petitioner and respondent. This witness said that from what he had seen of tho Eastman home he came to the conclusion that the respondent "was a very lucky girl, and that'the petitioner was doing too much for her. His Honour found the charge of desertion proved, and granted a decree uis\ Winifred Dora Temple Hitchings (Mr. M. Myers) alleged that her husband, Lionel Lancelot Hitchings,. was guilty of adul'Wi Btated that she had ono chiht She produced a letter which sho said* had been written by tho respondent to another woman. It began, "My own dearest darling Paul," and petitioner said that she found other Bimilar letters from her. husband to tho\.wonmn in question. A telegram from respondent to petitioner stating that he was gome to Orongordngo aroused petitioner's suspicions. She went with her brother to an hotel in Lower Hutt, and there found that Hitchings was occupying a room with the other woman. Guy Temple Perkins (petitioner's brother) and the former proprietress of tho hotel at Lower Hutt also gave evidence. Ilia Honour found that adultery had been proved, and granted petitioner a decree nisi, with an interim order for cußtodv of the child. Matthew Cooper (Mr, Hislop) stated that on April 3, 1904, he married the respondent, Emma Cooper, at St. Mark's Church, London. There were two children of tho marriage. Petitioner and his familv came out to New Zealand, and in 1911 respondent left him. She had been intimate with another man fdr some time before she left. A decree nisi was granted petitioner, with an interim order for custody of tho children. Wilkes (Mr. 0. H. Trcadwoll) charged Melvina Wilkes with having deserted him. Mr. P. J. O'Kogan said that ho had been instructed to appear for the respondent, but had later been told not to proceed with the matter; the respondent admitted tho desertion. Petitioner said he was married in 1894 at Wellington. Ho had children that were adonted, but no children of the marriage. Respondent left petitioner in 1915, and refused to return and live with him. A -decree hIbI was granted. Frances Ellen Mortimer (Mr. 0. W. Tanner) said that she married William Parry Mortimer, in London on December 27, 1897. Sho had to leave him once or twice on acoount of hi>- drunken habits. Kcsnomlent attempted suicide, prid was toit to » - i inebriates' home. In 1907 respondent left for Australia, while petitioner ,md her daughter remained in London. DcsnontT--ent did'not contribute to her Bupport, " Petitione™ went, to Australia some years later and got employment there. She found her husband in New Zealand in 1916. During ten years she had received nothing from him. In 1918 she rejoined him, hut owlne to his intemperate habits she had to teach in order to support herself. His' Honour granted a decree nisi. Adultery was the ground of Ellen St. Leger's petition for a divorco from Hupert William St. Legcr. Mr. P. Levi appeared for the petitioner, who was granted a decree nisi. Tho Court adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day.