DIVORCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1921, Page 6

DIVORCE.

DECREE NISI GRANTED ON HUSBAND’S PETITION. ' In the Supreme Court New* Plymouth yesterday, before Mr. Justice Hosking, Alexander Bruce Cormack (now of Wanganui), petitioned for a divorce from Louise Cormack, of Kohuratahi, on the grounds of adultery, Frederick Barker, of Kohuratahi, being cited as eo-respond-ent. Mr. W. Cunningham (Wanganui), appeared for petitioner, Mr. C. H. Croker (New Plymouth), appeared for respondent and co-respondent. The case was originally defended, but by arrangement between counsel for parties concerned it was eventually taken as undefended, petitioner agreeing to withdraw a claim for damages and costs, and respondent agreeing to forego a claim for alimony, provisional and permanent. Evidence was then called in proof of the petition. Petitioner said he was married to the respondent on May 12, 191 fi. at Wanganui, after having known her for about five years. After the marriage they, lived in Wanganui about 3J years, and in November 1919, shifted to Kohuratahi, where he intended to take up a bush farm with his brother. They remained in Kohuratahi till the following March. It was pretty rough country. The co-respondent resided there on a bush section about a quarter of a mile away from witness’ place. He did not know Barker before they Went to live there, neither did his wife, but later became acquainted, and Barker used to come to the house and play cards. Respondent and; .co-respondent became pretty familiar. 'He thought everything was all right, but began to have suspicions, (Once he found (Barker there when he returned after bein'g away. His wife and Barker were sitting on the couch in the kitchen, and they were talking about preparations for respondent to go on a proposed trip to Wanganui with witness and then to come straight back to New Plymouth, to Barker. When he went in to the kitchen he accused his wife of being familiar with Barker and she denied it He rode out to send a wire the same night, and on returning he found .Barker there again. Witness accused him of being familiar with his wife and he partly admitted it. Before they finally went away he could not keep Barker off the place. On March 4, witness, his wife, and his brother, left Kohuratahi. He stopped in Wanganui, and Mrs. Cormack and his brother went on to Wellington. He went to Wellington about a week later to join his wife, but found that she had left the morning of his arrival, with Barker for Kohuratahi. Witness then went back to Wanganui, and about a fortnight later his wife came -for her luggage. She left saying she was going to New Plymouth, but instead she went back to Kohuratahi. He later went, out to take her some clothes, but he found no one at home at Barker’s. Later he met his wife and Barker riding along the track to the co-respondent’s place. He had heard before he went up *that she was living with Barker. At that time Barker’s brother was away. He had asked his wife on a number of occasions to come back, and she had told him that the sooner he went for a divorce the better it would be, as she had no intention of‘coming back, William Cormack, farmer, brother of petitioner, and Percy F Wilson, (Kohuratahi) also gave evidence. IJis Honour granted a decree nisi to be made absolute in three months. There was no order as to costs.