DIVORCE PETITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1919, Page 3

DIVORCE PETITION.

UNUSUAL FEATURES. , TWO WELL-KXOWNT FOOTBALLERS CONCERNED. Auckland, Nov. !>5. A defended divorce ease witli some rather unusual features was begun at the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Cooper and a jury of twelve. The petition was that'of Uordou Hodder, who alhyed misconduct. An "appearance" but no auswer was liled by respondent, Florence Evelyn Hodder, on whose behalf proceedings' were watched by Mr. Moody. The suit was defended by the co-respondent, Carl Ifwersen. It was e lained that on the application of the co-respondent an application had been made severing the issues as against respondent and co-respondent respectively, and that therefore no statement made by respondent otherwise than in co-respondent's presence could be admitted as evidence against him. This severance of issues was stated by His Honor to be the first on record in New Zealand. Mr. Singer said that both pc' : t!oner and co-respondent were well known in football circles in Auckland. The petition alleged misconduct on two occasions in Sydney last July, and two in Auckland in Septemb/r. The rather extraordinary course which the case had taken, however, had prevented petitioner from making use of anything that his wife had stated, and he must confine his ■ charge to one particular act of misconjduc't at Auckland. The petitioner said that co-respondent, Ifwerson, was to his knowledge, a professional footballer. Early this year he and his wife went to Australia, and later Ifwersen, who was a member of the New Zealand football team touring Australia, called upon him at his home in Sydney. He had known Ifwersen well in New Zealand. He had no cause to suspect anything against Ifwersen and his wife, and they all three returned to New Zealand on the same steamer. After evidence as to alleged misconduct had been given, Mr. Paterson, for .co-respondent, said he would call evidence to show that Mrs. Hodder became infatuated with Ifwersen, and kept ringing him up, although he gave her no encouragement, but did his best to avoid her. The allegations of misconduct were denied by Ifwersen. The case had not concluded when the court adjourned.