EXTRAORDINARY DIVORCE CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2578, 10 May 1923, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY DIVORCE CASE.

Albert Williams brought a petition against Mildred Williams for restitution of conjugal rights in the Supreme Court at Palmerston N. yesterday, before his Honour, Sir John Salmond.

Petitioner, in evidence, said he was married to his wife on August 2.lst. Owing to'illness in his wife’s family, they agreed not to live together until September 2nd. They went to Waipawa, Palmerston N., and Tnumarunui, his wife leaving him there. At Hamilton a discussion had arisen between his wife and himself over a mistake he had made in giving particulars for the marriage certificate. Petitioner received adetter from Napier, stating that they must go there to initial a correction on the certificate. His wife held that they were not legally married and said she would go away by herself. They went together to Taumarunui, where his Avife left him. He received a letter from her at Napier saying she Avould not live with him any more, and that no entreaties Avould prevail with her. He had written to Mr Asher, the clergyman who had married them, to intercede for him.

To His Honour: Petitioner’s wife had not given any other reason for leaving him, except that they Avere not, in her opinion, legally married. He had knoAvn his Avife Avho had divorced her previous husband, about six months before they were married. 3

His Honour: “She seized the opportunity of what she thought was some irregularity, to leave you?”

“That is so your Honour.” Rev. J. A. Asher stated that petitioner had Avritten to Avitness repeatedly,'asking him lo intercede Avitb his wife. Witness bad seen Mrs Williams at her brother’s house. She was singularly reticent. He pressed her to go hack to her husband, and she replied that she was not petitioner’s wife. Witness kneAv of no reason why Mrs W illimns should not go back to her husband. He thought, on the other hand, that she would receive every consideration from her husband whom witness knew to be a most estimable man.

The petition was. granted, and Ijis Honour made an order accordingly.