Marriage Bonds Broken

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 600, 28 February 1929, Page 13

Marriage Bonds Broken

BUSY DAY AT DIVORCE COURT

Over Fifty Undefended Cases

POMBKE stories of domestic infelicity were told at the O Supreme Court to-day when undefended divorce cases were heard before Mr. Justice Kennedy. There were 55 petitioners, a higher number than usual, and many bonds once solemnly accepted, were broken expeditious!v by the judge.

i he number of petitions on the grounds of adultery was high, but many other petitions were filed on account of desertion and separation.

I was UlO ground upon *■7 which Daniel John Sluce (Mr. Singer) petitioned, against Helen Hunter Logie Sluce. The two were married in Scotland in March, 1918, and the following year came to New Zealand. In 1921 respondent's father died and she went to Scotland to see her mother. She never returned, despite petitioner’s entreaties. A decree nisi was granted. Her husband's failure to comply with an order for restitution of conjugal lights gave Kathleen Louisa Dickeson (Mr. Tong) ground for petitioning for divorce from Thurston Wyatt Dickeson. They were married in October, 1915. In September of last year she obtained an order for retuif of her absent husband, but he had ignored the Court. A decree nisi was allowed.

With a story of her husband’s adultery, .May Lillian Sowerby (Mr. Martelli) sought release from Percy Seymour George Sowerby. The marriage, which was childless, took place at Grey Lynn in March, 1921. The two later lived at Taupiri and near Morrinsville. Her husband and a woman admitted adultery. The case terminated abruptly when counsel asked leave to put in certain depositions proving adultery. The Court desired the attendance of the deponents, and the action was adjourned temporarily.

Another deserted wife was Bessie Clemens (Mr. Matthews), who asked divorce from Roy Quentin Clemens. The marriage took place in May, 1922. At first they got on well, but respondent later became dissatisfied, left her, and did not maintain her. Att>ut three years later her husband announced his intention of going away, and did so. A divorce was granted, petitioner having custody of the one child. Costs were allowed against respondent.

Yet another case of desertion was heard when Vera Fairbrother (Mr. Singer) petitioned for divorce from George Edward Fairbrother. The union was effected in March, 1923. Respondent never made a home, and petitioner had received only £7 since marriage. Respondent subsequently went to New South Wales, and all petitioner’s efforts had failed to get him back. Decree nisi was made. On the petition of Arthur Rowlatt (Mr. MoDiver), Emily Rowlatt was ordered to return within 30 days. The marriage took place in 1902. In January, 1928, respondent went to Sydney, and petitioner wrote in August asking her to return, but she declined.

After nearly nine years of marriage Gladys Coral Gash (Mr. Singer) obtained a separation in the Magistrate’s Court, Auckland, against Walter Gash in March, 1925. Since then petitioner had maintained herself and child. Divorce was granted. x« «:* * Misconduct was proved in the action wherein John Leslie Mitchell (Mr. Kirkcr) sought dissolution of his marriage with Charlotte Mitchell. Respondent admitted adultery with Ray Peters before a Justice of the Peace. The marriage was solemnised in April, 1920. Seven years later the two went to live at Paparoa, where the respondent met Peters. After she had been to a concert with co-respondent, witness had words with her, and she informed him of her determination to leave, which she did forthwith. Later she acknowledged misconduct. Decree nisi, to be moved absolute, was granted with costs against co-respondent on the lower scale. # * * Paul Angel (Mr. Singer) was married in November, 1913, to Matilda Angel. They lived at Whungape and there were two children. Petitioner was defendant in proceedings for a separation order on June 10, 1921, at Auckland. They had not lived together since. A decree nisi was granted. ; For failure to comply with an order made last November for restoration of conjugal rights, Margaret D. M. C. Millerchen lost her husband, Frederick Millerclien Mr. McLiver), who was granted a divorce. Vivienno Blanche Wilson (Mr. Singer) was granted divorce from W. James Robert Wilson, who ignored an order made in November for his return. Inez Greenwood (Mr. Milne) told the Court that Thomas H. G. Greenwood had admitted adultery in a Te Aroha hotel on June 23, 1928. Respondent had admitted before a J.P. misconduct on several occasions. The hotel proprietor gave evidence that a "Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood” had occupied a double room on June 23, 1928. At this time petitioner was in Auckland. A decree nisi was granted. Discovering that his wife was “not living a moral life,” Percival Froude

Hewitt (Mr. Hutliie) proceeded against Catherine Lamb Hewitt for divorce.

The marriage took place in Feilding in May, 191(5. and since then the parties had lived in various parts of New Zealand. In May, 1923, they agreed to separate. Hearing things about hi wife, petitioner journeyed to Moerewa on September 10 with two men, and arrived at 9 p.m. Witness “left his friends 12 yards away and crept to a house,” where he heard his wife’s voice and that of Harry Williams, the corespondent. Petitioner opened a bedroom window and. flashing a torch, saw the two in night attire. Albert Victor Wright, storekeeper, of Kaikohe, gave corroborative evidence. He looked into the room in time to see co-respondent crawling under the bed. A decree nisi was made, with costs against co-respondent.

On the petition of Harry Lloyd (Mr. Townsliend), his wife, Alice Mary Henrietta Lloyd, was ordered to restore conjugal rights within 14 of service of the order.

Miriam Coulam (Mr. Matthews) was successful in obtaining an order for restitution of conjugal rights by Alfred James Coulam. Until two years ago the marriage, which was solemnised in July, 1911, was happy. Respondent developed the habit of staying out at nights and on witness’s remonstrance packed up last September and only returned since to collect a few more of his belongings.

Separated by order of the court at To Aroha in 1925 from James Graham King, his wife. Melina. Cecilia King (Mr. Osburne-Lilly) was granted a divorce to-day. She was married at the registrar’s office, Auckland, in 1914. Petitioner had maintained herself and three children since the separation.

Doreen Louise Comyns (Mr. Matthews) obtained an order for return of Charles Cecil Comyns, who had left home in July last year. * * *

Violet Anne Oliver (Mr. Matthews) was granted a decree nisi against Ernest Walter Oliver on grounds of a separation order. The union was effected in March. 1915, and the separation order was made in December, 1925.

Desertion was the basis of the petition of Prudence Ethel Maud Nixon (Mr. McLiver) against Albert Nixon. The marriage was in March, 1013. Since 1915 and partly before that witness had to maintain herself and child, and had to live with her mother at Thames. Divorce was granted.