A CHRISTCHURCH DIVORCE CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1639, 27 September 1887, Page 2

A CHRISTCHURCH DIVORCE CASE.

Sydney, Sept. 13. What promises to be a sensational case, presenting unusual features, has been in the Divorce Court. Thomas Alfred Dorn sues for a divorce from his wife, Harriet Dorn, on the ground of her adultery with Albert Nicholson, solicitor. The parties were married in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1880, They afterwards came to Sydney, where the petitioner became a hotelkeeper. A little over two years ago his wife inat : tuted proceedings for a judicial separation from her husband. The petition wnsgranfed, and the husband was committed to prison for refusing to pay the costs of tho proceedings. Ho remained in gaol for two years, and was released a few weeks ago, by Justice Man* ning, who spoke strongly agairst his incarceration. His counsel said that tho grossest perjury was used to get him imprisoned. Mr and Mrs Dora were passengers from England to New Zealand in 1873. They did not again meet till 1881, in Christchurch, where! she went to a hotel, of which Dorn was manager, to seek to engagement as barmaid. At this time she had been and’ had a child, bnt the acquaintance being resumed, Dorn married lierin 1881. The misbehavior took place in Sydney, where Dorn and his - wife had come in 1882. He being the manager of tfn hotel had occasion to engage Nicholson professionally, and tho latter, according to petitioner's counsel, had basely abused the confidence opposed in him. While dining at petitioner’s house and expressing friendship for Dorn, he led his wife into infidelity and intemperance. Dorn on making discoveries. of what hud gone on, sent his wife into the country for a change, and events arose which caused them not to live together again. She lived with Nicholson at Newcastle. The case is causing a deni of interest. The Court is crowded. Mrs Dorn was a very nretty woman, and now is handsome. She appeared in Court with a little girl, the issue of the seduction in New Zealand, She was dressed neatly in black. Dorn i an elderly man. and bald. Nicholson, the co-respondent, is a little ra°n, and not at all prepossessing. Evidence was giveqof Mrs Dorn’s intempenle habit", which brought on hysterical fits. On one occasion,.when carried upstairs and locked in ■a room, she jumped from the balcony. At other tim a s she threw bottled and tumblers at h r husband’s head. The hearing of the r-uit will last several days. Great amusement was caused by the reading of a letter purporting to' be from tho co-respondent Nicholson to the respondent Mrs Dorn. The following is an extract -“All the anonymous. letters in the world won’t shake ray true, true, (rue, true love and respect for my own sweet honey, Ido not knov who Mrs Jemima Ann Robertson could have meant by the ‘wicked-eyed little lawyer,’ but if (hey are the windows of the soul, you could have looked through mine- down into my soul, and have seen there your own sweet image enthroned and enveloped by a halo of love and esteem. Good-bye, darling dnokey, dearest dove, and God bless and preserve you for your only o wn.” (Signed with initials). The letter also refers to money and other prowc matters. Mrs Dorn fainted after this letter was read, and hnd to be taken out of Court.