MONKTON v. MONKTON

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 75, 4 December 1884, Page 2

MONKTON v. MON KTON

Wellington. December 2. This was a petition for dissolution of marriage on the part of the wife, Emma Monckton, Petitioner deposed ; I am tho wife ot Charles Henry Monckton, photographer, and was I roamed to him in Auckland on the i ?.?rd. November, ISBI, wben I was twelve years and two month-* old. Mrs I yr.ch lived with us after tbe manA.ge I Had been previously Jiving- with Mrs Lynch, and Monck- [ ton bad lieen cohabiting* with her I j was forced into marriage by threats [ and persuasion. Monckton said he would turn nic and Vlrs Lynch (two sisters) out into the streets ii I did not marry him. Mrs Lynch also persuaded me to marry him. My sister passed tor mv mother at the marriage, and my age was stated to be fifteen year's. My mother was dead at tbe time, and my father was imbecile, I did not occupy the same room as my husband that, night — Mrs Lynch did. [Witness described in detail her movements for seme months after marriage, resulting in her escaping from her husband.] I declined to go back to my husband, becnu.se I bated bim. He was recently sentenced to a term of imprisonment for making a false declaration under the Marriage Act. — Alice Baxter, alias Lynch alias Howell, was next called. Sbe refused to answer whether she was sister of petitioner or not. His Honor warned her that she might be punished for contempt of court if sbe declined to answer reasonable questions. Witness said she could not swear to what she did not know. Sbe went on to say that to the best of her belief petitioner was ber sister. Mr D. G. Cooper was tbe only other witness examined, and he. gave evidence as to Lynch and Monckton having been sentenced for making a false declaration. This was petition's case, and tho matter was then adjourned for argument before bis Honor as to the question of legal cruelty.