A GISBORNE SCANDAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1924, Page 2

A GISBORNE SCANDAL.

[jiy TKi.Kon.vrn —it.it muss association (iISBOfiNL. .It 1. ITiiioial features and allegations charaetei Led the Magistrate’s Court proceedings here, when Helen Marjorie Dunlop sued Fergus dale Dunlop for maintenance. Roth parties arc figures nT much social standing in Disbarne, and the defendant, until recently, was a solicitor practising ill ibis town. The complainant alleged persistent cruelty, habitual drunkenness and failure to maintain. In support of the drunkenness oiaiiti. the coinnlainaiil alleged that defendant came home from a party one night with the word "stunned” written across his shirt front, and all the men and women at the party had signed their names in his shirt-front. The defendant admitted the incident hut he denied drunkenness on the no-

casion. Tlio defendant alleged n man. who was called in court “Mr X” and who is a married man. and also well-known in social circles in Ciishorne. came to the house with the complaintant, in the absence of defendant. The defendant alleged that the reason why his wife loft homo was her infatuation for “Mr X." Mr Fergus for the complainant asked for judgment. The Magistrate, Mr I.ovvy. S.M.. said that there had undoubtedly been for some time an absolute breach of martial reciprocity and indifference to each other which grew, rather than dimin--i-hed. and then culminated in this position tintt the man and the woman discussed and bargained with a third party who was known by the name of “Mr X.’’ Hi.s Worship went on to ,tate that “Mr X" could only call it a proposal for the purchase of a woman, freed by divorce, through a subsequent marriage. “I can only characterise this proposition as cold blooded bar gaining." said Hi.s Worship. “ a- it rooms to have l>een discussed and canvassed between both parties on number.s of occasions, until, at length, a tentative arrangement seems to nave been arrived nr. However, the arrangements proved fruitless, and mal- - went from had to worse tin 1 a break came.” The Magistrate also common rid on the dispassionate and impersonal n •liner in which the complainant gave his evidence. Orders were granted, ns asked for. with the maintenance at three pounds weekly.