GREY PASSAGE IN COURT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1748, 13 May 1913, Page 6

GREY PASSAGE IN COURT.

TOLD BY THE WIFE. A very palc-faced woman appeared in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday to ask the Court to grant her separation, guardianship, and maintenance orders against her husband. Mr. Ward appeared in support of the application, and 110 called the woman, to give evidence. . , You and your husband ,are not living together ? The-woman: No. Did you leave him, or did heleavo you? —"I left him." Why?—" Owing to his cruelty -and drunkenness." Was lie habitually drunk ?—"Sometimes." What do you mean by sometimes?— "Sometimes, lie was not as bad as others." Was he frequently drunk during the week?—" Almost every night." What time did lie come in at night?— "Nino and ten o'clock." How did he behave?—" Sometimes he was very bad'-lenipercd." Did ho break the dishes?—'"Yes; and I had to lock myself in my room." Was 110 cruel to tho children ?—"Yes." How many children are there?—" Six." What ages?—" Nine, six, five, three, and two are babies." ( f iat rent did you pay?—" Ten shillings; but 1 couid not pay it out of what he gave nie." The husband: How long have we been married? The wife: About ten years. Husband: For how long did we live happily together? Wife: Well . , . Husband: Now you know quite well; it is not, so long ago. The woman hesitated. The Husband: Eh! Now you need not hesitate.. Answer me straight out. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.: You need not answer that question. It is not relevant just now. . . Tho husband: I am the victim of a conspiracy. There is a lot behind tho scenes. Tho magistrate: I don't want to near it just now. The husband: Why did you leave mo? Tho wife: Owing to your cruelty to tho cliildren. Husband: What wag the cause of the cruelty. Wifo: You were not a fit father to be with the children. A wharf official gave evidence to tho effect that the man was a canablo worker who could make .£3 per week {at a very low average) but was not always 011 hand to get work. Au officer in the Charitable Aid Board's service deposed that the woman was in receipt of charitable aid. The doctor's report was that she was suffering through insufficient nourishment. Tlpr bad health was duo to continued neglect. The husband: Your Worship, for four and a half years I have been the subject of a certain amount of suspicion. The magistrate: It is useless going back four and a half years. The. husband: But, your Worship Tho magistrate: I am not going to argue with you. At. the conclusion of the husband's statement, the magistrate remarked: "It is perfectly clear you don't give your wife a sufficient amount of maintenance. An order will bo made against you to pay £1 15s. per week towards (lie support of your wife and children. The application for a separation order will bo granted, and your wifo will bo given the custody of the children.