An Extraordinary Husband.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7317, 10 June 1902, Page 6

An Extraordinary Husband.

In the Divorce Court, Melbourne, the other day, Ethel Georgian Portal, of Murtlinlloc, petitioned for divorce from Bernard Portal on the ground of constructive desertion. "Mr Woolf (instructed by Messrs Lynch and Macdonald) represented petitioner. Petitioner said she was a native of New Zealand, and respondent was an Englishman of considerable private means, who occupied his leisure with painting. They were married in New Zealand in ltSS], and came to Victoria. They stayed at the.Grand Hotel. Melbourne, for six indiilhs, mid then wont to Frankston to live, linally removing to JMordialloc in IH3S. where respondent had erected a house. lVtitijiier.said that iv the design tor the new house respondent provided himself with a bedroom, and since they went to that house they had occu-yiii-d separate rooms. For weeks together he would never speak to her. and marital relations hud entirely ceased mul-c December, IS9S. When she complained of his treatment of her he said he had ceased to love lier. Jle had a private income of at least MM a year, perhaps more. L;ist month she wrote to him to tiie effect that the situation had become impossible, and that she had made up her mind to bring it to an end by leaving him. In his reply, he said that as far a.s he was concerned it was better that she had gone, as he had not lclt any luvc for her for years, and consequently her presence in the house had been an iiimoyauce to bin:. Mrs Scalitleijiiry, a ln.-nd of petitioner, s:iid she had observed respondent's treatment of his wife, and had spoken to him on tho subject. He had told her that his wife was all that a man could ui-.ii f,, r . but that he did not love her. Tin; iiuuse at Moi-dialloc was the most perfectly kept residence that witness had ever entered. Witness said she served the petition upon respondent, and when lie received it he said he was not surprised. He further said he was not interested in petitioner, and had not been for some years. Mrs liuby Evalide Leiteh, sifter

of petitioner, said she had come from New Zealand to give evidence in the case. She visited the parties last year at Mordi.illoc, and had observed their relations. She spoke to respondent on the subject, and ho told her that petitioner was an estimable woman, but thai he had no love for her. All such feelings as love and affection had, he said, yauished years ago, and he and his wife were now as strangers. On her arrival from .TSfew Zealand witness visited respondent to -speak to him about the case. Ho then said he was exceedingly sorry that it should have come to divorce proceedings, buthe had no wish to live with hi.s wife again. Witness went to see him because lie had his good poiuls, and had always treated her with kindness. Decree nisi granted, with costs-