IN DIVORCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2316, 16 August 1921, Page 3

IN DIVORCE.

At the Palmerston sitting of the Supreme Court on Saturday, Herman Thorn Graham (Mr Jackson) applied for a'divorce from his wife, Mabel Thurza Jane Graham (Mr Ongley), on the ground of alleged adultry with John N. Rider. All the parties are residents of Foxton. The petitioner stated that he vVas married to the respondent in 1901. The parties lived successively at Palmerston North, Shannon and Foxton, and there were four children of the marriage. Until about two years ago, while residing in Foxton, lie had lived happily with his wife. The co-respondent, Rider, was a neighbour, with whom witness and bis wife were on visiting terms. On the night of a fire in the Foxton Borough Council offices in August, 1920, Mr and Mrs Rider were at witness’ house. All proceeded to the fire together. At the end of the street co-respondent and his wife were lost sight of, and the former, who was a member of the fire brigade, did not assist .at the lire. At 11.30 p.m. his wife and co-respond-ent returned, and in answer to witness’ question, his wife replied “that she had been for a walk.” The matter was patched up, but later respondent- was continually going to Rider’s shop. On one occasion witness and his wife and Ml" and Mrs Rider went to Wanganui. All four went to a picture theatre, and about ten minutes after the interval the respondent and co-respondent disappeared, returning to the hotel at 11.30 p.m. Their explanation was that they had gone for a walk. Challenged as to his conduct, co-re-spondent admitted that he was the cause of the trouble, and that if petitioner secured a divorce he would marry respondent. After returning Vo Foxton, respondent left the house with the children, but subsequently she returned, and petitioner went into lodgings. Every night respondent was visited j>.v (lie co-respondent. Samuel Free, enquiry agent, am! Abraham William Bangs gave corroborative evidence regarding eores|x>ndent's visits to Mrs Graham. ITis Honour granted a decree nisi, to he moved absolute in three months, with costs £35, and disbursements against co-respondent. There was no motion concerning the interim custody of the children.