Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld.) - Wednesday 8 June 1949
"DIVORCE COURT
undefended petitions for divorce were heard by His Honour, Mr. Justice R. J. Douglas, in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
A decree nisi was also granted to Victor Harold Stout of Garbutt, in his petition for a divorce from Ida Myrtle Stout, on the ground of desertion. The petitioner said he and his wife were married in 1919, and there were eight children of that marriage. They lived at Charters Towers until 1943, until he was discharged from the Army, when he came to Townsville. His wife followed him in 1944. In August, 1944, his wife went to Charters Towers for a holiday, said petitioner, and as was their mutual practice, when a letter came addressed to her, he opened it. When his wife returned a few weeks later, he said he challenged her as to the contents of the letter. She admitted they were true and that she was pleased that he opened it. She then left him in September, 1944, and, although he had offered to forgive her, she had refused to return. Petitioner was represented by Mr. R. W. Skerman, instructed by Mr. F. R. North (Roberts, Leu and North)."