DIVORCE CASE.
A WIFE’S PETITION. The allegation of adultery was the ground of the petition of Mary Murray, of Kaponga, -for a dissolution of her marriage with Bernard Reginald Murray, of Stratford, which was heard by Mr. Justice Chapman in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday, Mr. P. O’Dea appeared for petitioner and the case was not defended. Petitioner told the court that she was married on July 18, 1917, in the Presbyterian Church, Kaponga. After the marriage they lived at Kaponga, there being one child of the marriage, born in December, 1917. Her husband had failed to maintain her, however, and had never provided a home for her. From information received she had learned that her husband went to Christchurch last August with a young girl named Myrtle Lawson, and had stayed at the Columbia Hotel, Wellington. He later lived with this girl at Lincoln Road, Christchurch. Witness saw Myrtle Lawson at Inglewood oh Decembex* 16 and asked her if it was correct that she and Murray had stayed at the Columbia Hotel as man and wife. She admitted this was true and also that misconduct took place at Christchurch, and signed a statement to that effect.
On the advice of her solicitor, who was then consulted, petitioner proceeded to get -further evidence and went to Inglewood three days later, in company with witnesses. They found Murray and the girl at a dance and then both signed a statement admitting misconduct. The girl Lawson was about twenty years of age. Murray had never given petitioner any money at all, and she had been kept partly by her parents.
Corroboration as to the admissions made by Murray and Miss Lawson was given by Mrs. Gertrude Cutter, Kaponga, and Albert Birch, who accompanied petitioner on her visit to Inglewood.
“Decree nisi,” said His Honor, “costs against respondent on the lowest scale, interim custody of the child to petitioner.”
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Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1922, Page 6
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318DIVORCE CASE. Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1922, Page 6
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