PEER’S DIVORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1931, Page 8

PEER’S DIVORCE

LORD LANGFORD’S “WIVES.” PETITION IN MELBOURNE. A petition by Clotworthy Wellington Thomas Edward Rowley, commonly known as Lord Langford, of Point! . Lonsdale (Victoria), for divorce from Florence Eileen O’Donovan Rowley, commonly known as Lady Langford, of the Curb Tearooms, Strand, London, was brought before Mr Justce McArthur, in the Practice Court, Melbourne, on October 2. it came up on a summons by Mrs Rowley for payment of certain amounts into Court to enable her to present an answer and counter-petit-ion. Rowley’s petition states that the marriage took place on April 26, 1922, at Sandymount, near Dublin, Ireland. H© alleges that his wife deserted him without just cause. Mr H. Woolf (for Mrs Rowley) announced that it had been agreed that the Court should be asked to order that Rowley pay £3/3/- investigation j fees, and £2O on account of his wife’s j costs; liberty to Mrs Rowley to apply to have her husband’s petition stayed if these amounts were not paid; Mrs Rowley to have until February 16 to file an answer and counter-petition, and adjournment of her application for j alimony pendentilite. Mr Justice Me- j Arthur made an order in these terms. Lord Langford succeeded to the title on the death of his uncle last January. When he was Mr C. W. T. E. Row- , ley he married Miss Shiel in Dublin in . 1922. When he became Lord Langford, bis wife was working in a London teashop. His name appeared on a certificate of marriage in Melbourne in June, 1930, and as a result the Melbourne police communicated with Scotland Yard, who interviewed Lady LangfordHigh legal authorities in London Jmve expressed the opinion that proceedings,

if warranted, could not be taken iu Australia, and any inquiry would have to be held in London. It has been ruled that the right of a peer to he tried by his peers cannot be waived, and that the matter would have to go to the House of Lords, with the Lord Chancellor presiding. I. • .