SUPREME COURT. MATRIMONIAL AND DIVORCE.

BOOTH V. BOOTH.

Petition by Bridget Mary Booth for a dissolution of her marriage with William Booth, of Dunedin, labourer, on the ground of habitual drunkenness and cruelty.

Mr B S. Irwin, who appeared in support of the petition said the parties were married on the 14th May. 1902, at St. Joseph's, Cathedral, Dunedin. Petitioner was then 19 years of age and respondent was 24. Immediately after his marriage and, unfortunately, prior to his marriage, though it was not generally known, it was found he was addicted to drink and had served a large number of sentences in gaol for offences, the result of over-indulgence in drink. He had served a sentence of six months for assaulting his wife - and another of three months for assaulting her, the one assault being committed in Masterton and the other in Wellington. He had practically done no work since his marriage.

Petitioner, in her evidence, said respondent had stabbed her with a knife in Masterton and. received six months' imprisonment, and had broken her nose and blackened her eyes, for which he received a sentence of three months at Wellington. His first act of cruelty was to throw a lighted lamp at petitioner about three months after they were married. He was now in gaol serving a sentence for assault and robbery committed at Dunedin.

Evidence was also given by Julia Mary Gawn (the mother of petitioner) and Detective Ward, the latter stating that respondent had 24 previous convictions recorded against him during the past eight years.

A decree nisi was granted, to become absolute in three months; costs on the lowest scale against respondent.