NOVELTY IN DIVORCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3369, 8 November 1911, Page 7

NOVELTY IN DIVORCE.

GUILTY WIFE SECURES DECREE

What would seem to be a precedent in divorce nmuors was creawu fly Mr. Justice a’Beckett at Ballarat (Victoria) when he granted a decree nisi to a wife who had admitted misconduct. Florence Sarah Ann -.Murphy petitioned against Patrick Murphy, on the ground of desertion. There was no -defence. The parties were married in 1003. At the time of her marriage petitioner was only 16, ,and respondent was 21. One child was horn of the marriage. The petitioner admitted living with another man, and further, that she expected to be married to him if she obtained a divorce. The marriage was really one of convenience, the praties never having lived together. The wife was' deserted practically at the church door, and since the da.a of the marriage the husband had not contributed one penny towards the support of her child. Oh the contrary, lie borrowed small sums of money from her. Mr. Justice a’.Beckett said that if he was dealing with the ease apart from the law he would have:no difficulty. It was a startling proposition from a- lawyer’s point of view that lie should grant a divorce in such circumstances.

A. man named Lee stood up in Court and expressed his intention to marry Mrs Murphy. Air. Justice a’Beckett said that having regard to the fact that petitioner had promised to marry Lee if a decree were granted, and the attitude of her husband, he would, without making any expression of opinion as to how the law of general morality would ho affected, grant- the decree nisi, without costs against the husband.