David Masterton (1853-1928)
Divorced for Cruelty
David Masterton was the son of David Masterton, the first Mayor of Brighton, a suburb of Melbourne. He married Annie Sutherland Murray in 1878 who gave birth to a son, David Mitchell Masterton a year later. However, the marriage deteriorated and Annie filed for divorce, the details of which reveal the darkness of David's behaviour to her. He died, apparently alone, in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1928.
Genealogy
David Masterton was the youngest of four children and only son of David Masterton and Margaret Fisher, who had married in 1838 in Liverpool, England. This places him as part of the Masterton family from Kinghorn for which details can be found at this link.
The Herald
To-day again Mr Jutice A' Beckett heard applications for divorce in the Equity Court.
Annie Sutherland Masterton, of Brighton sought for a divorce from her husband, David Masterton, on the grounds that he had been guilty of infidelity and acts of cruelty towards her.
Mr Mitchell, who appeared for the petitioner stated that the parties were married in 1878 and one child was born of the marriage. Six or nine months after marriage, and while living at Carlton street, Brighton, the first and important act in connection with the case took place, when the petitioner discovered that respondent had been unfaithful to her. The petitioner was possessed of property worth about L8000 or L10,000. The respondent was a clerk in the office of his father, a well-to-do merchant in Melbourne. Sometime after marriage the respondent had given way to drink, and was continually extorting money from his wife. He had commited cruelty on his wife by drawing her out of bed, and grossly assaulting her, and his misconduct had physically and permanently affected her.
Evidence was tendered, and the medical testimony was to the effect that petitioner had suffered, and would suffer from her husband's indiscretion. While she was ill the respondent forced his way into her bedroom, and threatened and then maltreated her. The petitioner herself reiterated what counsel had stated, and amplified it by the remark that on one occasion her husband had threatened to cut her throat. Corroborative evidence was adduced as to the illtreatment and as to the medical results, and His Honor, at the conclusion of the evidence, granted the application
The Herald
Melbourne
Tuesday, 3rd September 1889