TWO FAITHLESS WIVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 623, 27 March 1929, Page 1

TWO FAITHLESS WIVES

HUSBANDS SURPRISE VISIT DIVORCE DECREES GRANTED On grounds of his wife's misconduct with a half-caste Maori. James August Dawson (Mr. Sullivan) petitioned in the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Blair for a divorce from Bilian Maud Lawson. John Harvey Waitford was cited as co-respondent. There was one child of the marriage, which was solemnised in October, 1922. Petitioner stated that his wife had twice left him and gone to the co-respondent. Evidence was given by a private inquiry agent that respondent and Waitford had been living togethet* as man and wife. He produced a signed admission from both. Respondent said she would not return to her husband. His Honour granted a decree nisi, with costs against the co-respondent. Another faithless wife was Doris Xicholl, against whom Richard James Xicholl (Mr. Finlay) petitioned for divorce on grounds of adultery with Nelson W. Cook, aged 21, who was cited as co-respondent. In evidence petitioner stated the marriage took place in May, 1919, at Auckland. One child was born. About a year ago witness began to doubt his wife’s fidelity. On the evening of October 10 last he and another man set off to go to a picture show and later decided to turn back. “We crept to the back of my home and got on to a fence where we could look into the house,” petitioner related. “My wife was in the breakfast room and co-respondent was with her. We saw them kiss. My wife then turned out the light. My companion and I had taken off our boots and we got into the house by the front door, stole along the passage and switched on the breakfast-room light. “I closed with. Cook and drove him out of the house. My wife then said: ‘You have caught me out’ ” Petitioner, in the presence of his friend, then obtained a signed admission of misconduct with the young man Cook. Respondent next day left the home and went to a friend at the suggestion of petitioner. He had since maintained her. Corroborative evidence was given by petitioner’s companion. In granting a decree nisi his Honour allowed costs on the lower scale against co-respondent. Divorce was granted to Elizabeth McGovern (Mr. Sullivan), who petitioned against Thomas Edward Lawrence McGovern on grounds of desertion. The marriage took place on February 11, 1902, and there were two children, now grown up. Petitioner said her husband left her in 1910 and they had lived apart ever since. For six years she had worked to keep her children.