MISSING EX-M.P.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8352, 12 February 1913, Page 9

MISSING EX-M.P.

RESTITUTION ORDER AGAINST CAPTAIN J. A. MORISON. WIFE’S STORY. COUNSEL SUGGESTS ANOTHER WOMAN IN THE CASE. LONDON, December 20Captain James Archibald Morrison, formerly Conservative M.P. for East Nottiugnam, was respondent iu a restitution tor conjugal rights suit heard by the president. Sir Samuel Evans, in the Divorce Court. , „ Mr Barnard, K.C., who appeared tor the wife, tho Hon. Mary Morrison- said that the marriage took place at St. Peter’s, Piimlico, on January 2nd, 1901. Captain Morrison was formerly M.P. for East Nottingham. They lived happily together for a tew years, and there were three children, aged ten. nine and three. During the summer of 1911 Captain Morrison told his wife that he intended to go to America and Canada on business. In September, 1911, Mrs Mornson was staying with her children at Stockbridge, and on September 20th the husband visited her there and bad© her good-bye. She saw him off at the station, and he promised to write to her, and said he would return in four or six months. From that day Mrs Morrison had never seen her husband. She received telegrams from various parts, but no. In the summer of this year the lady’s family solicitors communicated certain information to her, and advised her to consult Messrs Lewis and Lewis. She did so, and saw Mr Pool. Inquiries were made, with the result that Captain Morrison was traced to Vienna, where it was found there was another woman in the case. On July 12th the husband was written to. but declined to return to hie wife. THE WIFE’S STORY. Mrs Morrison, in a grey tweed coat and skirt, with black ruffle and black hat, told her story in the witness box. After the marriage they lived in Harley street aud at Desborough Park, near Reading. She had two daughters and a son. ‘L)id you live fairly happily witb your husband?” asked Mr Barnard. "Only for the first few years,” replied Mrs Morrison. Mrs Morrison described how her husband visited her at Stockbridge on September 20th, 1911. and said good-bye to her and the children, and she had never seen him since. She had received various telegrams from New York, and in a wire on February 24th last her husband sand he was resigning his seat iu Parliament. On July 12th she wrote to her husband'i My doer Archibald,—You have been away now for a long time, and I have heard practically nothing of you. i am quite unable to understand the position, but I think you must realise that tho present state of hflairs cannot continue. If you will return to mo as my husband I will do my best to forget the past.—Youre, May. Captain Morrison replied that he could not return to his Wife, On August Ist, 1912, Captain Morrison replied: Dear May,—Mr Pool has given mo your letter. I have thought Over what you eay in it, and have made up my mind that I cannot do ae you ask and return to you. it is quite impossible. I shall probably never come to England . again.—Yours, ARCHIE. The president: There will be an j order for restitution of conjugal rights, to be complied with within fourteen days’ service. You have some knowledge of bis whereabouts, I suppose? Mr Barnard: We don't know where ho is at tho present moment, hut 1 think in all probability he is on the Continent, The president -. Within twenty-one days. Captain Morrison inherited great wealth from bis father, a city financier. He saw service in the Soudan and in South Africa. Me sat in Parliament for South Wiltshire, aud eubseqeuutiy for East Nottingham. As M.P. tor tho latter constituency he survived a petition, the evidence of which showed that he had, at all events, behaved with great generosity towards the humbler population m his division of the town. Part of his surplus wealth also went in newspaper speculation for the benefit of the Tory party. He was the chairman of the company which started the ill-fated London "Evening Times,’' ahd held the largest interest in the concern.