AN ACTRESS'S AWOUR.

Arthur Algernon Johnston

In Love with Jessie lonnen

And Neglects, his Young Wife an* Wean.

Annie Eva Johnston, nee Johnson, a superior-looking young wife, -applied to Judge -Gordon, at the Divorce Court, Sydney, last week, to dissolve the marriage bonds that tied her to Arthur Algernon Johnston, a Sydney solicitor, on the ground of his adultery with a woman named Jessie Lbnnen, the well- 1 known shapely actress. Air. Curlewis (instructed by Messrs, Vlndin and Littlejohn) acted for petitioner, but Johnston and his Jessie did not materialise at Court. Petitioner's evidence ran to show that she was married to Johnston, who was then described as a gentleman, and 24 years of age, at St. Clement's -Anglican Churchy Mosnian, by the Rev. E. S. Wilkinson, on February 7, 1913. She was born at Mosman, and he at Goulburn. ; Two children were born, one of whom survived. In September, 1913, while they lived AT KINGSCLERE PLATS, Sydney, an alarming rumor having reached her, she told him what she had heard, and asked if it was true that he had been living with jolly Jessie Lonnen. Before this his habits hid been getting irksome to her, he seldom getting home before morning, and urging as an excuse that he had been detained by business. However, his behavior at homo was always very good. < When taxed with his infidelity with the Lonnen lass he dohied it. A little later on he pretended that ho was off on an island tour, and when sho Inquired if he did not rather intend to take a trip to New Zealand ;■ WITH MISS LONNEN, '„, he protested 1 his innocence, and assur-, ed her that he might not oven get off the boat. He was away for six weeks, and, on, the vessel's return, instead, of hastening homo to his family, she learned that he stayfed two days at the Australia with Miss Lonnen. However, she asked him how ho contrived to go to New Zealand without the money, and his explanation was that he had borrowed some; but ho admitted that he had not been In the islands. He had borrowed her jewellery also, Qn W- threatening to sue for divorce, he begged for forgiveness, and ( they again occupied the one apart-' ment. Early last year he saw her off to her brother's at Gunnedah, and as their home was still at Kiugsclere Flats, she wrote to him, but her letters were returned. True, sho did RECEIVE THREE ÜBTTERS from hjm m three weeks, but her letters to him remained unanswered. From that day to the present Bho had no communication with him, but had heard he was m Melbourne. Leslie Johnson, a grazier, brother of petitioner, said that one night last April fee, noticed his beautiful brother-in-law letting himself Into a house m Maquarle-Btreet, presumably with a latch -key r and about Beven o'clock he re -appeared with .Miss.. Lqnnen, and took her to the theatre. Later on m the month, while at the theatre with his brother, ho saw Johnston again with Miss Lonnen, and afterwards saw them walk to their flat m MacquarloBtreet^ which they ontored about half - past eleven. Shortly afterwards a light appeared at an upstairs window. Ernest W. Johnson, another brother, said that m September of last year the respondent calling at hla office m Bligh-street, be told him that he had not been . ' PLAYING THE GAME with petitioner, and 'had been seen openly with the Lonnen woman at the Rand wick races. Furthermore, that he had neglected his wife by getting homo late, and absenting 'himself at week- j ends, as well as lying to her by pre- j tending that business had detained him. He also told Johnston that it was known that ho had been living with Jeßslo Lonnen at a Phillip-court flat, which he had furnished for her. Johnston admitted that It was true, but said ho had been a mad fool, and hoped Johnspn would not toll his sister, who had not enjoyed good health lately, -as ho feared such nows MIGHT KILL HER and break up hla home. "You won't tell your sister, who has cv&ry faith m mo?" begged Johnston, and, on his promising to reform, witness said nothing about it His Honor said that while ho entertained no moral doubt about the matter, evidence should have been obtained regarding Johnston's life at tho Macquario-street flat. Mr. Curlewis said it was difficult to get people to tell what they knew, His Honor: Thore is a way to compel peoplo to give evidence. I don't like acting where It 1h possible to get evidpneo. There Is no evidenco that respondent lived there with tho woman after his 1 PROMISE OF REFORM and his wlfe'it forgiveness. In tho end. his Honor said ho would look further into tho matter before deciding whether additional evidence won necessary.