Alexander Wilson McFarlane v Mary Allewyn Parkes McFarlane and Robert Heron

Alexander McFarlane was a sheep farmer who lived in the Palmerston area and married Mary James at the Chalmers Church in Timaru on 10 February 1916. They had one child Betty Allewyn Russell McFarlane who was born on 16 November 1916.

Alexander stated in his petition that Mary had committed adultery with Robert Heron, a sheep buyer of Ranfurly, at the Strath Taieri Hotel, Middlemarch, on the 8th and 18th of November 1926. He wanted the marriage dissolved, damages of £1,000 from Robert Heron, custody of Betty, and Robert pays the court costs and any other relief that the Court decided.

The divorce file contains two photographs of Mary and Betty. These photographs would have been used by the person who served the divorce papers on Mary to identify her. The file also contains a letter from Mary to Robert, probably used as proof of their adultery. However, in their answers to the Petition, both Mary and Robert deny that they ever committed adultery.

Alexander was granted a decree absolute on 10 August 1927. Robert was ordered to pay £150.00 damages and Alexander’s costs.