KINGSFORD SMITH

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1928, Page 3

KINGSFORD SMITH

DIVORCE GRANTED. UNUSUAL GIFT TO WIFE

SYDNEY, November, 1. Squadron-Leader Kingston! Smith “hero of the Pacific and Tasmar flights, gained very little additiona noiociety as the result of his sueeesfui petition for a divorce from his wile. Tli-bna Eileen Kingsford Smith, formerly a Miss Corboy. Ibe suit was not defended.

The ground on which the pefitior was based was desertion and ’‘Kingston! Smith made it very clear that he did not make niiv aeeusaioiu of misconduct again*! Ids wife. In his evidence be said that lie was the son of a bank manager and bo‘was born in Brisbane on February Rth, 1897. Hi' ivnianent borne was in New South Wales, and there was no issue of the marriage. Petitioner said that while in Western Australia he complained of his wife’s coolness, and she then admitted llmt s l *,, was in love with nn-ot-i- man. She told him that she did r i cur' 1 f**r him. and that anyflli■ • ,r I*** cdibl do wodd not rc'.ii” her affections.. Correspondence had inis"' 1 1 between him and his wife b"t he could not induce her to return to him.

On cViecn'IKw 261 h. 1926. Kingslord Smith said that lie "-rot' l a tetter to his w’ , ‘ l as follows:-—-“T would like to (n'.-o t t'lc oan-'i't uni tv of wishing you and your mother the cormilimcnts of the season, and T bom l that all vour Christmases; will be baonv ones. Now T am writing again to ask you to come

had * in ’"<■ but if v-.ii arc d'-termi ll ' l 'l not to do so. von might at least write and fell me that. One does not like one’s letters ignored. If you are willing t/ 1 ’c'-'t-i i can ymi at least a home although you did not. seein overanxious to share one with me prior vor leaving me when T was in the West.”

\n uiius'O'l •'nature of the ease was that Tviiv'sford Smith *ael h« was de-irons of making a gift of £2oo to Ida wife, finch a <r- ft. had been s<’ggostod by Ids wife’s mother and he willingly fell in with the idea. How ever, lie was afraid that that might iv'diidice hi’ ll in his divorce action; collusion might Eav ’eon cusruwt-'' 1 The Judge said that although the deni ion was an unusual one he did not see that there was anything improper about it.

Kingsford Smith and Flm, who will probably he accompanied by the re-

Tasman flight, expect to leave Sydnoy for the United States on Decembor Bth. They are likely to ship the Southern Cross and fly from Honolulu to San Francisco. They'' say' : that "it would be a great triumph to arrivo at San Francisco by air, seeing that they set out from there in June last prepared to win or lose all.