MEXICAN MARRIAGES.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20277, 20 August 1937, Page 7

MEXICAN MARRIAGES.

QUESTION OF LEGALITY. CONCERN L\ HOLLYWOOD. MAY JEOPARDISE UNIONS. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgn HOLLYWOOD, Aug. IS. Mr. Louis Swartz, attorney for Jocelyn Howarth, the Australian actress known professionally as Constance Worth, whose husband, George Brent/- is seeking a divorce after a marriage that lasted ten days, challenged Elias Kastro, expert wit- , ness for Brent, who contended that Californian couples who spent a lew hours in Mexico and. then married were not legally married uniler I lie Mexican law. Witness insisted that marriage would he legal only when one of the contracting parties indicated the intention of establishing Mexican I domicile. The film colony is said to be very ! disturbed by tlie case, which possibly may jeopardise Ihe marriage of several j famous actors and actresses who eloped !lo Mexico. The outcome of the case, j therefore, is awaited with the greatest j interest. j Repeated references by Brent to j alleged pressure before bis wedding ' trip with Miss Howarth added an air of mystery to the Court proceedings. Allegations by Brent. When questioned on the subject of the marriage trip, Brent replied: “ 1 finally agreed because of the pressure.” Miss Howarth’s attorney asked the Court to strike out Hie word “pressure,” but Judge Haas refused. In a statement made during an adjournment of Hie Court Miss Howarth t. said: “If Brent is a gentleman he will explain what he meant by ‘pressure.’ I do not see where pressure comes In when a man repeatedly pror poses and a woman Anally consents.’ ,v Replying to this statement Brent said lie hoped to coniine the trial to y technicalities. o “ If Miss Howarth wants mudsllnging,” he added, “we will give her all the dirt she wants.”

"When the hearing was resumed Mexican experts, called on behalf ot Miss Howarth, said ihe marriage could not be annulled if Ihe couple, after the ceremony, lived as man and wile. The Vital Issue. The Judge refused a motion by Mr. Swartz for a dismissal of the action He said the vital issue of the vali.lil\ of marriages in Mexico should he settled onee and for all in this ease. The hearing was adjourned.