PRYDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL

NZ Truth, Issue 1240, 5 September 1929, Page 8

PRYDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL

Well-known Invercargill Solicitor and Social Lion

Ordered Back To Wife and Child

AMAZING MARRIAGE "AGREEMENT"

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Invercargill Representative)

One of the most extraordinary documents ever conneoted with matrimonial litigation m New Zealand wag presented to a judge m the Invercargill Supreme Court, when Laura Pryde, a young, handsome wife, after being married only twelve months, sought restitution of conjugal rights from Thomas Rewi ("Tubby") Pryde, well-known man-about-town and a member of the legal profession.

BOTH parties are well connected, .'and the document (a premarriage communication between the young solicitor-lover and the girl's mother) -revealed an. astonishingly commercial-like effort on tlie part of the writer to satisfy the laws of convention and yet evade all the responsibilities of a husband and father. The case was undefended, the Judge (Mr. Justice Kennedy) granting a decree for restitution, to take effect within fourteen days of the issuing of Ithe order. According to correspondence and evidence presented m support of Mrs. Pryde's claim for restitution, her marriage to Thomas Rewi , Pryde was hardly guided by sweet romance, nor later ruled by the hand of love. ' The union would appear to have been a straiflhtout marriage of convenience for theVpurpose of silencing gossiping tongues, and at the same time— so far as the young husband intended— a cool-headed arrangement never fashioned to form ttvelf Into a state of mutual affections. In Invercargill, the. Pryde family enjoys a liberal / measure of public and social, prominence, npt the least part of which is due to "Tubby!' Pryde's own activities m various circles. •Jn the Operatic Society, he takes a

ter your serious consideration not only for our own sakes. but also for the sake of our . little baby. Please write me as soon as you receive. this letter, and let me know when you are coming back home . . . Your loving wife, La lira Pryde."

Her husband's reply, 6vidontly, Was prompted by dlf- '",.; ,'.'. ferent sentiments. i' ..., , mhuwmw A MM ii»

It i'ea,d: "Dear Laura, — I duly ro-* ceived your lottcr of tho 10th Inst., and have noted tho contents concerning which I will make ho comment beyond again referring you to Messrs. Russell, Son and Meredith's letter to you of the 23rd May last.

"Your letter is obviously written under advice and as a preliminary step to the institution by you of a petition for restitution of conjugal rights, and as I am quite convinced of the futility of our living together m a state of anything approaching happiness, I must accordingly, l'efuse to return to you. . . . Tubby." In corroboration of the petitioner's story, an attractive-looking younger sister, Miss Marion B ar l° w > gave evidence m connection with the discussion which took place during her visit to the Pryde home.

Miss Barlow stated that she remembered the morning m May when Pryde had refused to listen to reason and stated that he was going to leave, which he did, despite persuasion. The letter which laid bare the strange circumstances which lay at the bottom of this unhappy mar-

, rlage, was lengthy and written by Pryde from Inveroarglll to his '„.m other-in-law under date July 11, 1928.

"Dear Mrs. Barlow (It read): — "Further to our. conversation of last Saturday.,' I; hay© 'given the matter very deep consideration and now write as promised. '/The wholo affair is rather ' deplorable, and no matter what conclusion it has, the persons concerned cannot escape from heartache and worry . '. . howover, this is what I am prepared to do: „"I will marry Laura m the.' Dunedin. Registry Office about the end of this month and will take her to Invercargill with me for a term of three month's. An agreement -will require to be completed b c tw. cc n Laura, yourself and myself, whereby you undertake to pay Laura during her term of married life and until her death or re-mar-

riage, the sum of Drew up a remarkable marriage 3 per „™* ( l h « agreement. Thomas Rewi ("Tubby') . ■ fl *^' J a £ e J„- *,* Pryde, who was ordered to return >">«> a "£ tO . **»&? to his wife. , h f r wlth Nothing, .- ■■ ■ ■ ■ - . etc. "~ -. . . "The agreement would also contain a clause that you would m your will make provision for her to at least the above extent. Laura would require to undertake that she would make no claim against me for maintenance for herself. "In addition,.! will require Laura, to enter into an agreement with me that whenever called, upon by me at. the expiry of three months'; marriage, she will enter into a separation agreement' and will return to her home and 'continue to v observe the terms ot the agreement, andj when the neces-.

sary period (which Is at present three years) has expired, will take or concur m divorce proceedings. "The agreement would also contain a provision that any child born of the union would be arranged to be adopted by suitable people as : soon as possible after birth. ; "Of course, these provisions may possibly not be put into effect, but it is .necessary all the same to have thorn there. In any case, I understood on Saturday that your main concern was that the marriage took place and that I took Laura away from Dunedin for a little while. "While I must confess that I do, not look forward with any degree of .'pleasure to a marriage by compulsion, and with one towards whom I have no warmer feeling than friendship; still, you have my assurance, that, during the period Laura will' be with me,-' I will' do my utmost to: be as Jklnd. as- 1 yean to' her, and feel certain "that I can say the same for my people. . .A.- > "I may say that I have numerous interests m this town which take me out considerably at nights and which I cannot lightly drop. It will be my aim, however, to arrange for company for Laura so far as it is reasonably possible. ; "After all, the sacrifice should not i . ' ;'■•' '■ ■'- ■ -■ ' '..■■■■ t