Gross petitions always appear to me to be somewhat of a paradox. Both parties asking for a dissoluof their marriage, and then each setting to work to do all in power to defeat the end they are both striving to attain. And in most of the cases—and it is 80 in this one—it is obvious that it would be impossible for the parties ever to live together again as man and wife, There is certainly the question of the custody of the children to bx considered but that docs not neces sarily follow the decision in the matter.
There has been a great deal of contradictory evidence given in, this case and it is extremely difficult to decide which and how many of the witnesses have even approached the neighbourhood of the truth, Evidence to be Etiminated I shall begin by eliminating the The first to be eliminated is J.
Verstapan, He made a statement at a lawyer's office and signed it, speaking of the cruelty of Spencer' to his wife and stating his personal of the adultery Spencer in April and May, 1924. He now comes and gives evidence on oath denying that statement, and supporting the case of Spencer, the Fespondent.
He states that he signed the statement when he was drunk and that the document was covered over when he signed it and that he did not know what he was signing. ature is in firm, steady handwriting showing no sign of moreover I cannot be-possible that an individual should be made to sign a document covered over and of which he was entirely ignorant, in a British lawyer's office. Therefore I believe nothing he says and enrively eliminate his evidence, T also eliminate the evidence of Cecil Mohing. é made what fe called "a confession" in favour of Spencer, which he states was forced upon him and that he only' signed under duress. He now gives evidence on oath in favour of Mrs. Spencer the petitioner. I consider'
safer to also eliminate evidence in toto, The only material evidence given by"A. D. Protheroe are statements. made to him by Mohing, and as have eliminated the evidence of Mohing, the evidence of Protheroa is of no assistance in the case. will deal later with the evidence of Longer and Vinogradsky.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.