The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) Sat 19 Jul 1924 100100

PROTRACTED LITIGATION.
DECREE NISI GRANTED
By granting Harcourt Roy Mansell, boot-
maker, of Parade, Norwood, a decree nisi
in the Divorce Court on Friday, Mr. Jus
tice Napier brought to a close litigation
between Maneell and his wife that had
occupied the attention of five Courts over
a period of 35 days.
The history of the case started in Febru-
ary, 1923, when Mrs. Mansell laid an in-
formation against her husband, alleging
cruelty and desertion, and asking for a
judicial separation. The proceedings occu-
pied the attention, of Mr. E. M. Sabine
S M. and two justices for 13 days. At
the finish the Bench was unable to agree.
Later it came before a second Court, pre-
sided over by Mr. L. H. Haslam, S M.
On a point of law raised by Mr. Mansell's
solicitor (Mr. J. W. Nelligan) Mr. Haslam
declined to hear the case. The next move
by the wife was to appeal to the Full
Court for a mandamus to issue, compelling
Mr. Haslam and the two justices to hear
the matter. After argument, the Full
Court granted, the mandamus. The case
was heard by Mr. Haslam and was dis-
missed. The husband then instituted
divorce proceedings against his wife. The
application was heard by Mr. Justice
Napier in the Divorce Court on Friday
afternoon, and a decree nisi was granted.
The petition by Mansell, who was re-
presented by Mr. J.W. Nelligan, set out
that he met his wife when he was study-
ing to fit himself to be an evangelist, in-
tending to work among the poor of Mel-
bourne. His wife's maiden name was
Beatrice Hilda Cross. They were married
at the Manthorpe Memorial Church,
Unley, on February 5, 1919, and resided
at Strathalbyn and Norwood. There was
one child. The gronnds relied upon for
divorce were the admission of the wife
while under cross-examination by Mr. Nel-
ligan in the Police Court, that she had
stayed the night with a man at the
Echunga Hotel, althongh she denied mis
conduct.