"We Were Happy in N.Z. Without Night Clubs”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 18

"We Were Happy in N.Z. Without Night Clubs”

Husband Asks Wife “To Renew Courtship” . . ,

Peculiar London Case.

STRIKING letter, YxJuU? written by a husband to 1253 wife asking if they jslg. -rnT could “start all over M again, first courting each

other until we can awake the old love and confidence and finally get married all over again,” was read in the King’s Bench Division recently. , The husband, Mr. Arthur James n.nnandale, ot Nevern Square. Earl’s Court, London, W., by a firm ot solicitors tor £l3O for professional services rendered to his wife. Mr. Croom-Johnson, K.C., tor the solicitors, Messrs. Wright and Webb, said the law was that a wife had a right to incur legal expenses in matrimonial proceedings. The husband was liable for such expenses as were necessary. But the husband was not (table if his wife were leading a dissolute life. Mr. Croom-Johnson said that last February Mr, Wright, the senior partner in the firm, was consulted by Mrs Annandale, who alleged that ner hus band had been guilty of cruelty toward her and had locked her out of their fiat. They had married in New Zealand in lt>2G. Husband's Letter On February 21 last year, added Mr Croom-Johnson, she brought Mr Wright a letter which her husband had written to her, and which was of tile utmost importance in the case The letter read: “My dearest, poor little Betty,— “If you had only come and told me and said you were sorry and that I must take more trouble to keep your affections, I would have forgiven and. more important, forgotten I still love you more than anyone in the world “Phil has told me that you only have live shillings left and your luggage is held I shall be outside Barclay s Bank at one o’clock today to give you money and, darling, to' get your consent to have a talk together. “If you don’t want to talk, behave as- if we bad met casually, and 1 swear that I will go away, but very sore at heart. Think it over, darling. How happy we were at first without night clubs in New Zealand. “Can’t we leave Earl’s Court alto gether and take two rooms somewhere and start all over again, first courting each other until we can awake the old love and confidence, and fin Elly, get married aii over again if we are successful? “We Can Conquer” "Otherwise we must part and wait until the law separates us automati cally Or, if you can find another man whom you love, i will release you in the simplest way by going out “I have only one thing to live for now, and I have knowD that since the moment you ran away I never slept again that night. My darling, why didn’t you just tell me then? Betty child, I know your patents are all against our reunion—l opened a letter from your mother. “That will make it harder for you !>ut if love is still there we can con quer anything.

“I am terrified for your future if you have no protector, and I am afraid that few men can be that better than 1 can, because I now understand. “Darling, if you want to proceed against me, do not use this letter. It is a love letter from my heart, expressing feelings that I could not bear to have published and which I have camouflaged ever since you came home from India. “I have not even got the confession now; it was burned months ago after we made friends one night, although l knew it was true because I can read vour very thoughts and because l have always loved you. “As ever, your loving husband, Arthur. “P S.—Darling, we all grow old and need a mate. I will succeed In busi ness if I have something to work for “P.P.S.—I will give you far more money to spend as soon as we have paid our debts aud will share everything as we did at first.” Mr. Croom-Johnsoti said that on April 3 Mrs Annandale presented a petition for a judicial separation on the ground of cruelty On May 17 her husband filed a cross petition for divorce, alleging miscon duct with four named men The charges against two of Lhe men were struck out by order of the court, and ultimately Mr. Annandale was granted a decree nisi, with costs against one of the co-respondents. Midnight Scene Mr Cartwright Sharp for Mr An uandale, said Messrs Wright and Webb, as experienced solicitors, were aware that if they did not get sufii eient orders for their costs fi-om the Divorce Division, and had to sue the husband, then whether they would get their costs or not depended on whether the wife was or was not guilty of misconduct. "One of the troubles of this marrted life.” said Mr Cartwright Sharp, “has been throughout that this woman seems to have found no pleas ure in anything but excitement and gaiety She was always wishing to be out at night clubs.” Mr Annandale objected very strongly to bis wife returning home after midnight On the night of Feb ruary 15-16, last year when the ladv alleged that hei husband locked het out in the snow she did not get home until 2.45 a.m It would be found that she and Mr Daniels a man with two wooden tegs, went together to an hotel, and there was evidence that tatei the% lived together as man and wife The hearing was adjourned.