A PROFESSOR’S DIVORCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 57, 10 March 1915, Page 6

A PROFESSOR’S DIVORCE.

Before Mr Justice Hodges in the Practice Court, Adelaide, Ernest Scott (47), professor of history at the Melbourne University, was granted a decree nisi for divorce from Mabel Emily Scott (44), of Warwich Crescent, Maida Hill, London, on the ground of desertion/ The marriage took place at the public registry office, Marylobone, on May 7, 1892. There is one child, a daughter, 21 years of age. Ernest Scott stated that at the time of the marriage ho was a journalist. His wife’s maiden name w r as Besant. They came to Melbourne immediately afterwards, and for some years they lived happily, but in 1895 she came under the influence of some women Catholic acquaintances, and in 1896 became a convert to that,Church, Just before that she refused to live with him as his wife. He i - emonstrated, but she was quite firm. She was one who would take a line and follow it. In 1906 his wife went to England. She stayed a year and came bpck. She was away in Sydney for six months, and then, in 1909, she asked to go to England again. He consented, thinking that separated as they w r ere she might as well be in England. She made out a schedule of expenses, but in it there was ho provision for a return fare. He pointed this out, but she, made no answer. <•.

Counsel: Has she written to you ? Briefly; generally a postcard once a week and an acknowledgment of a draft once a month. She said that she had nil intention of coming back. Mr Justice Hodges: Is this lady a ■daughter of Mrs Annie Besant? ■ Witness : Sho is.

Counsel for respondent said with reference to the alimony that Mrs Scott had been getting an allowance of £2O a month. Mr Woolf said that Profes-

sor Scott was willing to continue lK, t allowance as alimony, and also \ 0 |, ;l y the allowance he was Hl J *’ lC i n g ],i s daughter Muriel.