UNHAPPY MIXED MARRIAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1920, Page 6

UNHAPPY MIXED MARRIAGE.

HUSBAND VERSUS WIFE. (.'OXJUoA, RIGHTS SOUGHT. A case of Xew Zealand interest ivas heard in Sydney last week when William Alfred Joseph Cross, an employee of the Repatriation Department, petitioned Mr. .Justice Cordon, in the Divorce Court for a decree for restitution of conjugal rights with Elizabeth Eleanor Cross (formerly Flahey). Cross was represented by Mr. Bowie Wilson and Mrs. Cross by Mr. W. VV. Perry.

Cross, in liis evidence, said lie was married on April 1, 190G, at Sydney. He was tlii'u a salesman. He and his wifo were of different religions. She was a Roman Catholic, and he was a member of the Anglican faith. Some time after the marriage he went to New Zealand, of which he was a. native. He had been twice, to the war, and was among the first of the A.I.F. to win the D.'C.M. He was a sergeant when he' went to the war. He had been a lay reader in the Church of England, and eventually became ordained. His wife raised objections. One of tiie differences he had had with Mrs. Cross was because he found that she was not wearing her wedding ring. ''l don't want to wear it," she said. He next found the ring thrown into one of his drawers. Cross admitted Dial on two occasions lie hod struck Mrs. Cross under extreme provocation, when she had endeavoured to kick him. lie iiad given Mrs. Cross no cause to leave him. She had refused to return to him.

Mr. Maddocks Cohen at this stage of the case said that he would conduct the case on behalf of Mrs. Cross, inasmuch as Mr. Perry was required by his senior counsel in the Myersou ease. Cross-examined by Mr. Maddocks Cohen, Sergeant Cross said that at the time of the marriage his wife was employed in the Public Library. He was originally a Methodist, but later became an Anglican. He could not say if he had worked his passage to New Zealand, awl he denied that he had taken his wife's purse and returned it to tier empty. He did not threaten his wife because she was desirous of christening the children in the Roman Catholic Church. He did not, while in New Zealand, represent himself as a single man in order to obtain a position as a layreader.

Petitioner further stated that lie resigned his position as n lay reader. After an iii(|uiry by the Church authorities certain charges which were made against him were declared ridiculous. He denied that on one occasion he brought home a rabbit, and told his wife to make it last a week. Air. Cohen: When your wife asked you to take her out didn't you say, "I'll take you to hell?" - Witness: No. Did jyon ever give your wife a present, such as an article of jewellery? —1 may have. Isn't it a fact that you never gave your wife a present in your life?—l can't, remember. Do you remember on one oceasiotl your wife finding a gold bangle in vour |iwkef y—r-'lie may have done. And on another occasion vou bought two bangles?—Ye?. I gave' one to a nurse in appreciation of her services. Do you remember your wife asking von about yvm - idol lies |„>j„„ ~o v ered Willi yellow, or fair, hair?— N o. ''Here is a gum-leaf, with some writing on i(." said .Ur. Cohen, holding up the leaf, "The writing is: • Tis sad when thon art away, niv love.—Marie,' Did you receive that from Marie?" Witness: f did not receive it. Mr. Cohen: The date on it is July, Witness: T was al the war then. Will you swear it was not in your pocket-book or wallet?—l don't know anything about it. J2u further Uwing was adjourned