DEFENDED ACTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 May 1927, Page 11

DEFENDED ACTION

PORTLAND DIVORCE ADULTERY ALLEGED TWO CO-RESPONDENTS £J_EORGE ROOK and a Maori named Hakaraia were joined as co-re-spondents in the action for divorce brought- by Neils Peter Hjalmar Pedersen against Violet Pedersen before His Honour Mr. Justice Herdman at the Supreme Court this morning. Mr. L. P. Leary appeared for petitioner, Mr. A. J. Moody for the respondent, and Mr. R. Singer for G. Rook. Petitioner stated that he was a carpenter in the employ' of the Portland Cement Company at*Portland and was married to respondent in 1917. He said that returning to his house unexpectedly after visiting a friend's house he heard a noise inside as if a chair had been knocked over. He also saw his wife looking through the window curtains, and his suspicions becoming aroused, he rushed inside just in time to see a man, whom he recognised as George Rook, getting out of the window. Petitioner chased him for some distance and then returned to the house. His wife said that she did not know' Rook was coming and started to cry. He then went up in the direction of Rook’s shack and 'met him coming down the road in company with a man named Liliquest. Petitioner attacked Rook, but the other man pulled him oft. Petitioner stated that he heard later that a Maori named Hakaraia had visited his house during his absence. When taxed with the offence Hakaraia admitted having done so and also signed a statement admitting adultery with Mrs. Pedersen. Appellant notified his wife of the admission and she said that if petitioner left Hakaraia out of the caso she would not defend the proceedings.

He agreed to that course, but joined Hakaraia in me petition when he heard that his wife intended to defend the proceedings. To Mr. Moody: He had not been guilty of cruelty toward his wife. On one occasion his wife threw* a loaf of bread at him and he held her to prevent her hitting him. Petitioner also stated that he frequently visiewa some people named Brown. His wife uid not like Mrs. Brown and she did not accompany him very often. The Browns had a special liome-brew*ed beer and when he visited them he would have several glasses. At this stage proceedings w*ere adjourned until 2.15 to allow the parties to confer w*ith a view to coming to an agreement.