DIVORCE CASE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 429, 18 November 1876, Page 2

DIVORCE CASE.

G. V. STEWART v. STEWART AND GLEDSTANES. (From the Auckland Evening Star). For some time months back it has been rumored that a notable divorce case was likely soon to come into Court affecting certain of the principal settlers at the special settlement of Katikiti, near Taurauga. Up to the present time we have carefully refrained from publishing any of the reports we heard, and it is only now when we hear that it is arranged for .the suit to be heard at the Civil S-.-ssions.

in January next, that we are led to men tion it in our columns.

The petitioner in the case, which we may say presents most extraordinary features, is Mr George Vesey Stewart., the pioneer of the Katikati settlement, who sues for a divorce from his lawful wife, Margaret Torrens Stewart, on the ground of her adultery with Mr Cecil Gledstanes, of Katikati, a youth about 19 years old, who is one of Mr Stewart s Cadets, and has been residing in bis house.

The following is the main substance of the petition : — “ 22nJ August, 1876. “ The Petition of Gbobge Vesby Stewart, of Katikati, in the Province of Auckland, Settles,

Slieweth — “1. That your petitioner was on the 17th day of April, 1856, lawfully • married to Margaret Torrens Stewart, then Margaret Torrens Miller, a spinster, at the Church of St. John Moneymore, in the Couuty of Derry, Ireland.

“2. That after the said marriage, your petitioner lived aud co-habited with his said wife at Lisbeg House, iu the Couuty of Tyrone, Ireland, and at other places, iand latterly, from about the month of September, 1875, until the month of July. 1876, he co-habited with her at Katikati, in the said province. “3. That your petitioner and his said wife have had issue of their said marriage, to wit, nine children (the names follow). “4. Tiiat on the tenth day of July, 1876, and divers times between the 10th and 15th days of July, 1876, the said Margaret Torrens Stewart committed adultery with Cecil Gledstanes, of Katikati, settler at Katikati, aforesaid. “ Your petitioner therefore humbly prays—l. That your Honor will be pleased to decree that the said marriage of your petitioner with the said Margaret Torrens Stewart shall be dissolved. 2. And that your petitioner may have such further and other relief in the premises as to your Honor may seem meet. “G. Vesey Stewart."

It will be seen from this that the rumor that the co-respondent was a young man named Wilson, aud that he went home in the ship Carnatic, is totally unfounded. The crime of which Airs Stewart is accused is intensified by the fact of Mr Gledstanes being her own nephew. The respondent's reply to the petition is a complete denial of the charge. We are informed on good authority that some of the allegations are so singular, that the case is bound to provoke great public interest.