GEORGE STILL HAS HER

NZ Truth, Issue 1194, 18 October 1928, Page 4

GEORGE STILL HAS HER

Jackson's Despicable Conduct Is Condemned By Judge

(By Cable. — From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.). Despite the bunch of witnesses he produced m the Sydney Divorce Court, George Henry Jackson, the big New Zealand importer of oils and colors, did not succeed m persuading the judge to cut the legal kn°t that tied him to his fourth wife, formerly Jinny Irwin, of Cheviot, N. Z. "*> ■ . • -. - ■'}'>' -'- ■ . ■ ' ■ . ■ ■

EVIDENCE on ..behalf, of the petiH tioner, a 64-year-old paint manufacturer and importer, of Wellington and Blenheim, New Zealand, was fully reported m "N.Z. Truth" last week. Jackson charged his wife with misconduct, naming Gerald Ballantyne, a young, farmer 1 , of Mina, New Zealand, as co-re. The case commenced a couple of weeks ago and concluded last Tuesday. Besides himself, Jackson had two sons and several private sleuths as witnesses, but his wife won all the same. Costs, it is estimated, ran Into something like £3500. When the hearing was resumed last week, evidence was given by Dr. Mary Ellen Irwin, who gave. her age as 33. She stated that she had been practising m Cheviot. New Zealand, since September, 1923. Mrs. Jackson was her sister and came to live with, her m October or November, 1925. . ■ She was not sure of her sister's' age, but thought she was about 40. ■ .. The doctor went onto say that she met Gerald Ballantyne about the middle of 1924. He called to see her almost- every day and they were on affectionate terms. Dr. Irwin declared vthat she was m the habit of kissing him goodnight when he went. away. There was no change m his attitude towards her after her sister arrived ; indeed, she had never noticed the slightest familiarity between Ballantyne and' her sister. In reply to Counsel Curtis, K.C. (for Jackson), the lady ' doctor admitted that she was' not on quite, such ; friendly terms with Ballantyne ■ now as formerly, but that was hot because of the present trouble.' It <fcvo,uld require a long explanation. : She said briefly: "Mr. Ballantyne was not as he was before he went away to hospital." Counsel Curtis: You are rather friendly with someone else now, aren't you? — I don't understand. With a" certain gentleman for the past nine-month's? — With whom?. One of the Mr. Edridges; hasn't it become very marked ?— Well, I . . •'• I woh't press you! Did you and Mr. Ballantyne still kiss after his return from the hospital m April or May, 1926?— Yes. He was still a daily visitor?— Yes. . You used to come out to the porch and kiss him good-night?— .' ■"*«-:.'■ ■-■:.■" .■•'■ ■■, ■ ■ ■'; Gerald Ballantyne, a tall, nervouslooking young fellow, elected to stand up m the witness-box, though granted permission to take a seat. With his hands clasped behind his back, he hesitated before answering every question put to him. " •Ballantyne declared that, he wasvery fond of Dr. Irwin. It was to see her, that he visited the house and not *on account of Mrs. Jackson, , whom he had seldom seen alone. . It was true that he had played golf with Mrs. Jackson on a couple, of oc-> casibns, but they were not alone,; excepting on Sunday, May 22; the day Solomon and the Jacksqns visited the links. . ;. ;•■.:■:.,■ -." .:■ ,'■■ v ::' '■';.: : ■■■:■;,;,;-' He had intended; playing golf .with Dr. Irwin that afternoon, but m 'spekking to liei' over the 'phone she Inform-'

A Doctor's Kisses

Ed him that she had to go out and suggested that he should take Mrs. Jackson. . Ballantyne declared that 'there was not a word of truth m the statement of Solomon and the two Jacksons that he and Mrs. Jackson were m the golfhouse. , The three men accosted them while they were 'on the green. . ■ . . Alexander Ross, a big, strapping, clean-looking young fellow who had been employed as a farm hand by Ballantyne for a year, was the last witnessHe had never seen any familiarity between his employer and Mrs. Jackson. As a matter of. fact, he had never seen them together. As for the suggestion that the lady spent the night of May 10, 1927, at Ballantyne's house, that was not true. He saw Ballantyne asleep at 5 o'clock next- morning m his usual bed on the verandah. There was no woman about the place. In his address, Counsel Boyce, K.C. (for Ballantyne) x-emarked: "Jackson is very anxious to get rid of his wife. This one is No. 4. Apparently he has wives dotted about all over the place. "If he can get free of this one — this number four — he will be relieved of the separation allowance and will be able to look round for No. 5, unless he already has one m view!" In delivering judgment, Mr. Justice, Owen said that Jackson was apparently prepared to extort a confession from his wife by threats, by .duress or by any. other means. He was prepared to go to any length ''.... '- ' ■'■■•■ ~ ' and m order to pro- " "" tect his own skin he would do anything. His conduct was despicable and he had shown that he .;.. , ■ was a man whose evidence was entirely unreliable. Jackson's sons, top, had shown a great deal of hostility towards their stepmother — their hostility was such that they did not disdain to act "the part of private deteqtives. As to the. evidence of Solomon and the other private detectives that Jack r son had employed, his honor, was not disposed to accept their testimony. If the story told by Jackson's sons and the private .detectives were true, then it must be apparent that Dr. Irwin was privy to the misconduct of Ballantyne, who had been practically engaged to her at the time. Such a. thing was incredible. ■•.:'. ' . •' His honor had observed the demeanor of Dr. Irwin m the witness-box and had no hesitation m accepting her as a witness of truth. Also, the judge went on, he had no. doubt that the story told by Mrs. Jackson and Ballantyne was true. ■_'.■'■ ■:■,';.: , ;.■. A good deal. had been said concerning Ballarityne's failure to . protest against the charge when made by Solomon, but Ballantyne— as. could be seen— was a shy man of diffident manner... His. behavior on that :'•'■: occasion was quite consistent with innocence. • In .dismis.sirig the: petition with costs agains t ' JackSpn; Mr. Justice Owen said that' it. was not a case where he might have a .reasonable "doubt. He had no doubt- whatsoever. : ■; '.-. He believed . the witnesses for the resporiderit and ; 'cb- respondent— rand -he 4isbelidyed those ; ; who Wad testified on behalf ,ot\the. petitioner.