SOCIETY DIVORCE SUIT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1924, Page 4

SOCIETY DIVORCE SUIT

HUSBAND’S HUGE INCOME

SYDNEY, March 13

The pending divorce action between Mr Lchbous Tlorden, youngest brother of Sir Samuel Horden, and his wife is already exciting Sydney society, though it may be several months before the “cause celeb-re” is listed for the hearing in the Court. Both Mr and Mrs Lcbbeus Horden are young, well-known and handsome; the bride herself was wealthy, and the bridegroom is tromendusly rich. Dramatic devlopments of a romance framed in the most luxurious setting are promised as the divorce action proceeds. The service last week of a petition for divorce upon Mr Hordern from her hiisban-l was a climax to a long history of marital differences, which had already been in legal dispute. Mr and Mrs llorden were married in Sydney in October, 191.2. and their son was born in April, 1914. But in June, 1919, after initial steps in legal conflict, a deed of separation was drawn up between husband and wife. By this deed Mr Hordern agreed to allow his wife £BOOO a year dear of State or Federal income-tax. This is the largest allowance to a wife ever khbtvn in Australia. Its tax-free character makes it higher than the £9OOO a year granted to Lady Dudley, who sueci Lord Dudley afterwards on the question of liability to taxation.

Great legal luminaries will shine in the divorce drama. For Mr Lobcus H Hordern, Mr A. B Sliaiul, L.C.. and Mr S. V. Toose have been retained. For Mrs Hordern, Messrs R. AVimleycr K C., A. R. J. Watt, K C... AY. J., Curtis, and A. V. Maxwell will appear. All these retainers were arranged some time back. Mr Hordern, a grandson of the founder of the great business of Anthony Hordern and Sons, Lid., has an income estimated at £1.(10.099 a year. He has been a princely patron of art and from one visit to Europe is reputed to have returned with about £30,000 worth of pictures and statuary. He is, moreover, a studious man. He reads economics, and can quote from many authorities on the illation between capital and labour. But he Las never inclined to enter actively into big business, lie is now wholly dissociate;! from business connexion with the giant firm. Keenly interested at that time, in aviation, wficn the war began he presented a seaplane to the navy, and it went away in H.M.A.S. Australia. In 1921 lie. lent a seaplane lor a survey of the Eastern Coaaf. He himself had bought hut bad never used it. Finally, Mr Hordern tired altogether of this hobby. His 'planes now rested packed away in parts. Of late years Mr Hordern lias boon rather a recluse.

Mrs Hordern was before her marriage Miss Olga Monie, one of the society beauties of the day. Iter father, who was a railway contractor, was educated at AYesley College, Alelboiirne. becoming in bis last years there captain of the school. AA hen lie died, after a successful business career, his estate was proved at over £80,(109. Miss Olga Monie spent the I urinative years of her life at l.orctto fonveiit. Sydney. She had not long been out in the social world when, at the age of 20, in 1912. she was married to Mr Hordern at St Alary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. During the brief

.periled which separated her school days from her married fife she was one of the most handsome and most popular girls in Sydney society. After the estrangement from her husband, she left. Sydney in August, 1919, taking her boy with her. She visited Egypt, England, and then travelled extensively in Europe and America. She came, back to Sydney in June. 1922, by herself. She had left her son at school in Baris. She was here for several mouths, but went abroad again. She stayed away until her arrival on the R.AI.S. M.iloja Inst week.