THE WALLACE DIVORCE CASE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9023, 10 December 1907, Page 4

THE WALLACE DIVORCE CASE.

A CRICKET AND YACHTING SENSATION. WORSHIP OP A BROTHER. The other day onr cabled news from Melbourne referred to a sensation caused by the Wallace divorce case, in which Charles Dunkloy Wallace, the well known yachtsman and owner of the crack InterState racer, Sayouara, and after of the splendid Auckland built Bona, sonpht to obtain a divorce from his wife. Mrs Wallace and lie were well known figures in Sydney and Melbourne Society, and the co-respondent, Dr R. H. Strong, was noted as a Victorian athlete and is a sou of the exMayor of Melbourne. Further interest was .attached to the case from the introduction of the name of the j bowler now playing such havoc with i Australian wickets, and who stayed ; With the last English team at the 1 Hotel Australia, Sydney, where also tin Wallaces stayed. The Australian mail lias brought full accounts of the case from winch the following is condensed : The hearing was before the Chief Justice and a jury of 12. The parties were married in March 1001, at St. Catherine’s Church of England, Liverpool, England. It was alleged by the petitioner that on various days of May, June, aTnd July, 1907, respondent misconducted herself with Dr Strong at the residence of the respondent’s sister, Mrs Vivian Parker, St. Kilda. The allegations of misconduct were denied by the respondent, who filed counter- jharges, in which she alleged that between December, 1005, and April, 1007, petitioner misconducted himself with various womeu. A stroug bar was engaged. THE HUSBAND’S EVIDENCE. Petitioner gave evidence as follows: I live on my means. I was married in England in 1901, and on arriving in Australia the following year lived at the Esplanade Hotel, St. Kilda. Prom there I went to Ilaldou, on St. Kilda Road, where my sou was born, and he is the only child of the marriage. After living for six mouths at Raid on we wont to stay at Alma Road, At that time I owned the yacht Sayouara, but Mrs Wallace said it was too small for ladies, and that 1 was selfish in keeping it. I told her that I would build a bigger boat tor her, and I thou ordered a larger yacht which I called the Bona. This wsa built in Sydney. Up to that time the relations 'between my wife and myself had been very friendly. In that summer my wife spent some time in New Zealand with friends. She was

away about throe mouths, and during that time wo corresponded. She returned in February, 1903, and brought back with her a friend. After her return we did not got_ou quite so well as before. Mrs Wallace was not so affectionate, and she went out more frequently. A nurse had to look after our child and home. Her friend went back to Now Zealand in August, 1903. When she had left I found a letter which I afterwards returned to Mrs Wallace. I found it in her writing pad whe.ro I was searching for some notopaper. I saw “My Darling Kiddie” written on the outside of tire paper, and I then read the letter. It was, X believe, afterwards destroyed. It was signed cither “Cecil” or “Cecil Hawkins.” Hawkins is a young man who lived in Christchurch. "When I found the letter I waited until Mrs Wallace returned, and I said to her, ‘‘ I went to your desk to get a piece of notopaper, and I found this letter. ” I said, “Take it and destroy if., or I shall use it against you.” I don’t remember all that was said. I was too angry. Up to that time I had been allowing my wifo £350 per annum to clothe herself and child. On her return from Now Zealand I increased it to £3OO. That was before I discovered the letter. In October, 1903, X wont to Sydney with Mrs Walgco and a lady friend. The child did not go with ns as Mrs Wallace would not take -him. Wo stayed at the Australia Hotel until about Now Year, 1904. JBRAUND TAKES THE WICKET. Whilst staying at the Australia, we mot L. O. Brauud, a professional cricketer in the English cricket team. My wife saw a good deal of him, and I told her that I knew Brauud was no good and she should \ not knock about with him. I said to her, “Yon are only making a laughing-stock of mo in front of everybody in the hotel.” She replied that Brauud was a gentleman, and that she did not believe what I said, I thou told my wife that Brauud had shown me letters ho had received from certain undesirable women in Sydney. She said she did not believe it, as lie was a gentleman. On several other occasions I had to speak to her. When the cricketers wore going to Melbourne I found Mrs Wallace in her bedroom crying. She asked mo to allow her lo go to Melbourne to the child.. I told her that she had stayed away from the child so long that another week "would not matter. I added, “You only want to go to Melbourne after Brauud.” She replied that she did not. I “argued with her about Brauud, and wont on my bended knees to her, and asked her to have nothing more to do with him. She threw her head back and laughed, saying, “A nice sort of man you are to admit that you can’t keep your wifo to yourself. Why the devil don’t yon get another one, and not come worrying moV” A fortnight later Mrs Wallace went back to Melbourne by train. I brought the boat round. The English cricketers wore then in Tasmania, but shortly afterwards they came to Melbourne. GENTLEMAN AND OAD. ”

When they returned I told my wife she was still carrying ou with Braund. I told her she was meeting’ him, and I hogged her not to do so. She said lie was a gentleman, and I was a cad. I saw her meet Braund. It was ou a Saturday morning, about February, 1904. There was a cricket match at the Melbourne Ground that day. About, that time I found a letter iu the waste-paper basket iu Mrs Wallace’s room. It was torn but I pieced it together. It was dated February 11 th 1904, aud read as follows:—“My darling old Leu, — Well, dear, guess you arc just arriving at the Australia. I wonder if you have thought of your old kiddie once since yesterday? I hope so, Leu. Well, darling, lots have happened since you loft last night. There was a hig row, aud don’t be surprised if you got word at any time that I leave by the Sonoma ou the 37th of this mouth for Now York. Poor little nurse cried all night. I was so sorry for her.” I said to Mrs Wallace, “You have been writing to Braund.” She said she had not, anti added, “If I did write, I didn’t post it.” ANOTHER SOCIAL LIGHT APPEARS.

Did you find anything else? Wo were talking about it one morning, aud she said I was a mean sneak going to the waste-paper basket. I said, “Well, so that. I won’t bo a moan suoak, I’m going to your writing pad, to see if I can iind anything more.” I found a piece of blotting paper aud took it to a mirror and read it. It was my wife’s hand writing.

Mr Bryant: Can you read anything there? Witness (examining the pad); Yes, it reads ‘ ‘ Letter to-morrow. I hope it comes; good-bye,sweetheart, good luck and be good. Always your loving Kiddie.” Then there is a blank, and the following woms:— ‘‘l love you; anyone would. I don’t care who knows it.—Will Lawson, ■Esq. ’ ’ THE PRIVILEGE OE BREAKPAST.

Witness, continuing, said: Mrs Wallace was present -when I found the letter. Lawson was in Sydney when wo went there. I purchased ‘‘Lanark” in 1004 at Mrs Wallace’s

request. She said if I would buy it she would get up early every morning aud have breakfast with mo. She said she would look after the greenhouse herself, aud would not go into town so much. I then thought all would bo happy again. We went to live at ‘ ‘ Lanark” in May, 1905. Por about a week she got up every morning and had breakfast with me. Then one morning she said that she was tired and stopped in bed. After that she hardly ever had breakfast with me.

The further hearing was adjourned.