THE DIVORCE COURT

Wairarapa Age, 26 March 1920, Page 3

THE DIVORCE COURT

PICKERING v. PICKERING. Iu the Supreme Court at Masterton yesterday, before His Honour the Jhief Justice, Evelyn L. Pickering petitioned for a divorce from Henry dickering on the grounds of desertion. Mr Hogg (of Hart, Hogg and fucker) appeared for petitioner. The defence had been withdrawn. Mrs P.ckering-said she was married on 18th November, 1908, to Henry dickering at St. Mark's Church, Carterton. In August, 1914, her hushand left her and had not returned since. .Ie had not paid her anything for maintenance during that period, dickering went to the war in 1916, and returned about seven months ago. de said to her, "Are things the same?" She said "Yes," and he said ae would come back that afternoon. He did not come backhand since then she had not seen him. She had received some military pay during hi» absence. ' Robert Miller, Clerk of the Court at Carterton, said that in August, 1915, a maintenance order was granted against Pickering/ No payments had been made under this order. His Honour said that, seeing re-! spondent .had filed a derence, and had J since abandoned it, he would grant | the application for divorce. WELLS v.-WELIS. Catherine Wells petitioned for a divorce from Charles W, Wells, on the grounds of adultery.' Mr R. R. Burridge appeared for petitioner. i Mrs Wells said that she was married to Charles Wells-, labourer, at St. Mary's Church, Timaru, on Ist January, 1912. They lived in Christchurch. There were no children. A girl named Violet Crawford was her first cousin. I She came to live with her just before : Christmas, 1915. Witness went into a hospital for an operation for about a fortnight. Violet Crawford was in the house during this time. One of the children explained upon witness's return that Violet Crawford was •sleeping with Wells. She accused Violet and her husband of misconduct, and her husband admitted it. Witness then took proceedings for separation and maintenance, and obtained an order. After the order was rriade witness agreed to give her .husband another chance if he moved-away from Christchurch, where Miss Crawford was. He then sent witness to Welsaying he wpuld follow. He later wired that' was seriously ill, and to come at once. She did so, and accompanied him to a doctor. Wells Was suffering from a certain complaint. Witness returned to Wellington and took up a situation, where she had been ever since. She did not see her husband again until the citation for this case was served upon him. From what she heard, witness went to a home in Wellington,. where she heard a Mrs Wells was. Witness recognised Violet Crawford, who admitted that Wells was the father of her child. Witness taxed her husband with the paternity of Miss Crawford's child, and he admitted it. Miss Crawford went under the name of Mrs Wells in tho nursing home jn Wellington. His Honour granted a decree nisi, with costs against respondent.