DIVORCE CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1273, 4 December 1884, Page 1

DIVORCE CASE.

In the Divorce Court, Wellington, on Tuesday, the case of tfockton v. Monckton came on. This was a petition for dissolution of marriage on the pare of the wife. Emma Monckton, the petitioner, deposed : I am the wife of Charles Henry Mouokton, photographer, and was married to him in Auck'andon 23rd .November, 1881, when I was 12 years and two months old. Mrs Lynch lived with us after marriage. I had been previously living with Mrs Lynch, and Moncktm had been co-habiting *ith her. I was forced into marriage by threats «nd persuasion. Monck'on said he wa'.d turn me and Mrs Lynch (two sisters) out into the streets if I did not marry him. Mrs Lynch also persuaded me to marry him. My sister passed for my mother at the marriage, and my age was stated to be 15 years. My mother was dead at the time, and wy father was imhecile. (Witness then described in detail her movements for some months after her marrnge, re«u'ting in her escaping from her husband.) I declined to go back to my husband, because I hated him. He was recently sentenced to a term of imprisonment for making a false declaration under the Mariiagw Act. Alice Baxter alias Lynch, alias Howell, was next called. She refused to answer whether she. was the sister of the petitioner or not. His Honor warned her that she might be puuis'»ed for contempt of Court if she declined to answer raesonable questions. The witness said she could not swear to what she did not know. She went on to say that to the best of her belief the petitioner was her sister. Mr D. 0. Cooper was the only other witness examined, aud he gave evidence as to Lynch and Monckton having sentenced for making a falsi declaration. This was the petitioner's case, and the matter was then adjourned tor argument before His Honor as to the question of legal cruelty.