WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 195, 7 January 1913, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). HEAVY DIVORCE DAMAGES ORDERED TO PAY £2.300. A BRIEF MARRIED LIFE, London, November 20. Two thousand fire hundred pounds damages were awarded by u special jury sitting with .Air. Justice Bargrave Deanc in. (lie Divorce Court to-day. 'Die petitioner was Mr. Charles Henry Mawdesley, a commercial traveller, of Wembley, who sought the dissolution of his marriage on the ground of the misconduct of his wife with the co-respond-ent, Mr. James Bird, of East ('owes, a shipbuilder and owner, against whom the damages were claimed. There was no defence, except on the question of damages. Tho marriage took place in September, 1010. In the course of his duties the petitioner was away from home at times, and in September, 191], he received a telegram saying that his wife had left home. Later he saw his wife at Scarborough, where she was staying with her mother and sisters. His wife informed him that she had I come to the conclusion that their natures were different, and Unit she had fallen in love with another man. Thinking she was overwrought, the husband took no notice. Later he ascertained that during his absences from home the co-respondent used to call for Mrs. Mawdesley in (his motor car, and tkeiy would be away the whole day together. Immediately on learning this petitioner went back to the "hotel at Scarborough, and finding the co-respondent there gave him a thrashing. Both the respondent and the co-re-spondent denied that there was any misconduct. Tn subsequent letters the wife admitted her affection for the corespondent, who i s a, married man. Tho co-respondent, it was stated, twice promised not to see Mrs. Mawdesley, but bioke 'his word. It was ascertained that respondent and co-respondent on October 10, 1911. together at an hotel at Soutlisea, and later they lived in London.

Addressing the "•■"•o Williams, K.C. (for the petitioner), suggested that this was a case for exemplary damages, as the co-respondent had surreptitiously wooed this young girl (the respondent) and seduced her from her husband. Co-respondent had behaved abominably, said counsel, having dazzled the lady with his position and his motor car.

Mr. Shearman (for the co-respondent) | said that sometimes love took possession of people, and they did things they could not help. That was so in this case. The fact was, respondent and corespondent fell in love with each ot'aer, and the wife, apparently, made 110 secret of it to her people. It was apparent from the correspondence that tfi« wife thought she was neglected by her husband, and, being wretched, grasped the happiness tendered from someone else. The other side, said Mr. Shearman, ha.i spoken of a "ruined home." There were no children, and petitioner and his wife had been married for less than a year. Here wa s a romantio lady and a businesslike gentleman, and a' lonely neighborhood. Then .someone else came on the scene, and fell in love with one another. The petitioner was still a young man of twenty-eight, and could marry again. j

Ilis lordship, in summing up. poiHte.l out that any damages awarded would be settled on the respondent. Mr. Shearman stated that the co-re-spondent's wife last week obtained an order for restitution of conjugal rights. The jury, as stated above, awarded £2.300 damages, finding there .had been misconduct between respondent and corespondent. His lordship granted the petitioner a decree nisi with costs, the damages to 'be paid into court within fourteen davs.

The jury asked that the greater portion of the damages should be awarded to the petitioner, and his lordship said he would give attention to the matter.

TRAGEDY OF THE BALKAN WAR WOMAN BETRAYS lIER COUNTRY. A tragedy in which a Bulgarian woman s love led her to betray her country and brought upon her swift retribution has been published in the Petit Parisian. According to the special correspondent of that journal at Sofia, a woman of high standing in that capital, wife of a Bulgarian stair-officer, was found guilty of betraying the Bulgarian mobilisation plans to the Turks and was shot. A few years ago when she w.y still a young girl she fell in love with a dashing young ollicer attached to the! Turkish Legation at Sofia. Her parent--, however, would not hear of their .marriage, and when the young officer was recalled to Constantinople the girl reluctantly married a Bulgarian officer. Some time later the Turkish officer returned to Sofia charged with a special mission, and friendship was renewed .between the two. Finally, it is asserted, the Turk asked her to run away with him. "I have been ordered by my superiors." he said, "to obtain the Bulgarian mobilisation plans. If I do not succeed I shall be relegated "to' soihe distant command in Asia Minor, and we shall have no chance of seeing cm; another." T.he woman pointed out that they were both too poor to think of eloping, and told him to be patient. A few days later she handed him a bundle of documents containing the Bulgarian army plans. She had taken them from her husband's desk and told the Turkish ollicer to photograph them and to give the originals back to her. When the war broke out the Turkish officer was captured in one of the first engagements and papers were found on him revea Hug the whole affair. He was tried by court-martial and shot. The young Bulgarian woman, though the wife of an officer, was not spared, and having been found guilty by a special court at Sofia, was also shot." Her husband. determined 'to wipe out the dishonor on his name, was one of the first in (hp storming line at Kirk Kilisse. and fell riddled with Turkish bullets.