MANAWATU DIVORCE SUIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 116, 24 August 1910, Page 4

MANAWATU DIVORCE SUIT.

"A H'ELL UPON EARTH." By Cable. —I'roas Association.—Copyright Palmerston ' (North, Last Night. At the .Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Cooper and a jury of twelve, Charlea J. little, of Feikling, applied for a divorce from iMargaret Little, for alleged adultery with F. Y. Lethbrklge, of Feilding, ex-M.P. for Oroua. Damages £6OO were claimed. Mr. H. G. Moore appeared for petitioner, Mr. ' 'H. R. Cooper for respondent, and Mr. A. L. Herdman (Wellington) for co-respon-dent. The case for petiti6ner was that about five years ago he protested agaijist corespondent visiting his wife. Be and his wife were eventually separated, tyis wife receiving £1 a week. Shortly afterwards she went to England, On her return they again lived together, and on Sunday night, June 20, Little and two other men saw Lethbridge enter petitioner's house and go into the drawingroom, which was in aarkness. Petitioner and his companions then went in and confronted Lethbridge. iEvidence for petitioner was given by Little, Bates (private enquiry, agent), Knyvett and Miss Avery (lady help at Little's).

The respondent's case was that the whole thing arose out of a visit paid by co-respondent to Mrs. Little at the latter's request to discuss money matters in respect to a loan advanced by corespondent to her some yeara ago, when she was bard up. Justice Cooper: So that co-respondent had the reputation of generosity to people in trouble, and had assisted the littles monetarily? Lefchbridge said that life in the little's house was a "hell upon earth," owing to Little's drunkenness. Respondent, in evidence, said 'her life was a miserable one, her husband being a drunkard. The evidence was concluded to-day, and counsels' addresses wall be taken to-niorrow.