FIRST COUSIN WHO THOUGHT HE CAME FIRST

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 7

FIRST COUSIN WHO THOUGHT HE CAME FIRST

THE pealing of marriage bells m 1919 is now but a dim memory for the Colletts, of Dunedin. The crash has come, due to Evelyn's having loved not wisely but too well outside the marital fold. George Edmund Collett has secured his decree nisi and his first cousin, Alfred Frederick Welsh, an engineer, of Christchurch, has been told by a Jury to deliver £300 as a balm to the injured husband's feelings m having had his wife stolen from him by the amorous Alfred. George Edmund, who is a railway employee, journeyed with his counsel, Lawyer J. S. Sinclair, all the way from Dunedin last week to tell Judge Adams and a jury .all about it m the Christchurch Divorce Court. Collett not only asked that the nuptial knot be severed, but that he should be awarded the sum of £500 damages at the expense of the corespondent Welsh.

Enter Third Party The story tola by Lawyer Sinclair, and which was bao.ked up by George when he entered the box, was a sorry tale of a gay Lothario whose long suit seemed to be poaching on another man's preserves. Of course, Welsh was most charming of manner, and being a flrßt cousin of George, he was a persona grata,

so to speak, m his home after the formalities of introducing him to his wife were completed. However, it was not very long before the fickle Evelyn, m spite of home cares and four young children, had lost her heart to Welsh, the welsher of another man's wife. And thereby hangs the tale. Neither Welsh nor the erring Evelyn thought it necessary to defend the suit and George romped home with his decree and damages. When,' on March 26, 1919, George and Evelyn left on the honeymoon trip, both were deeply m love, and when they settled down to home-making m Dunedin, life seemed one long round of happiness. Time went by and they set up the nucleus of a family. The Colletts were truly happy until towards the end of last year, when Alfred Frederick Welsh appeared on

tne scene His arrival was the prelude to much trouble and heartburning, but it was some time before Collett realized just what sort of a man his first cousin was. At this time the Collets had moved from Dunedin and were living m Addington, Christchurch, hence the meeting with Welsh, who is an engineer employed by Anderson's, Ltd., m the Cathedral City. Collett was delighted to take him along and introduce him to Mrs. Collett, and, being a relative, he of course had access to the home whenever he liked. Welsh traded fully on his friendship with Collett to pull the wool over his eyes and deceive him„as to his real intentions.

They were anything but honorable, and he lost no opportunity of impressing himself upon his cousin's wife m a manner that any self-respecting husband would strongly object to. But, convinced of Welsh's friendship, and as he was a relative, Collett suspected nothing. He was, as he told the court, living on the happiest terms with his wife and he had no reason to think his affection for her was not reciprocated.

But some time later he had reason to revise his opinion. One day as he was leaving work, Welsh met him outside, saying he had been up at the house but did not like to stay there when Collett was not present. George thought little of this at the time, but when he and Welsh finally arrived home Evelyn "burst into a

i cloud of tears" and then rushed into the kitchen. Wondering what all the fuss was about, and very much perturbed, Collett followed her out and asked her what the matter was. But never a word did she vouchsafe m explanation. Lawyer Sinclair: Had you had any serious quarrels with your wife up to that stage? — No. From then onward did you notioe any change In your wife's affection for you?-— Yes, I did; she cooled off. Her affection for me faded right away. When once he realized that a crisis was pending m his married life, Collett left for Dunedin, taking his wife with him.

But by this time Evelyn's heart had been well and truly snared by the welshing first cousin. Collett told the court that about a week after he and his wife returned to ■ Dunedin she cleared out and left him.

-And very cunningly was the departure staged by the wife. "One day she had to go out into town on business," said Collett. "At that time we were staying with my own people, and as she left the house she told my mother she would not be long." His Honor: Were you present at the time? — No, I. was at work. His Honor: Well, you cannot give us hearsay evidence. Lawyer Sinclair: Just tell the court what you know of your own knowledge.

"Well, I had neuritis at the time . . . " Collett began to explain, but the judge interrupted him. "What has that got to do with it?" asked his honor. Counsel: He is just leading up to the point, sir. The Judge: But what has neuritis got to do with it? Collett forgot his neuritis at his counsel's invitation and went on to tell what had happened when Evelyn cleared out. "The same day I met her on the street and she told me she was oft, and wheeling round got away quick and lively," said he. Counsel: Now, up to that time had your wife been a good mother to the children? — Yes, absolutely. Lawyer Sinclair then put m two written confessions supplied by Welsh and Mrs. Collett. Mrs. Collett was interviewed at the house where she was staying with Welsh at 2tfß, Madras Street, Christ-

church, by W. R. Lascelles, a solicitor, to whom she admitted misconduct with Welsh. Welsh, when he was interviewed at the same address later, also made a similar admission and added that he and Mrs. Collett had been living together as Mr. and Mrs. Welsh since March last. * "The question for you, aentlemen, is to decide what is the value of this woman who has proved false to her marriage vows," remarked the judge when addressing the jury on the question of damages. "The woman was living happily with her husband until the co-respondent csme along, and the presumption will be that he lured her away, knowing that she was the wife of another man." Neuritis His honor pointed out that the corespondent, who was described as an engineer, was probably a wages man, and the jury would have to consider that fact when assessing damages, if any. The jury did not take long to deoid* and brought back a verdict for £300 damages. The Judge then entered th« decree nisi and gave judgment for the \ amount awarded. A 'costly wooing for Welsh.