EXTRADITION CASE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 170, 12 April 1919, Page 6

EXTRADITION CASE

CHANGE OF WIPE DESERTION.

By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, April 1. A farmer named .Tames Arthur Laml>* den. aged .17, who was arrested at Taupaki on Slarcli 13 on a charge of wifo desertion in Victoria, resisted an application mado before Sir. Wilson, S.Si..for his extradition. Evidence in suppon. of the anniieation was j-iven by Senior Constable otecdman, of Victoria, who presented a warrant issued for the defendants arrest, .and a deposition sworn by the defendant's wife. Lucrctia Lambden. Ino complainant, in her deposition, stated that die and the defendant were married in 11)03. and that there were three children of the marriage, their (i?r>s ranging from fifteen to six years. In .Tune. her husband went to the wnr, and tin returned in October. 15)18. He was met bv her on his return, and tihey stayed .together for two or three days, when hn left for Melbourne to see the military authorities, end did not return. She had ne' seen liim since. The prisoner gave evidence to the M* feet' that when he went' to tlv war lis drew all his savings (about JMM) and gave tficm to his 'wile. She nbo had a. piano, furniture, and broks of his. valued at .£IBO, and had five guineas a week whilo lie was away. On his return ho decided not to live Willi her. but vrlien he left Melbourne lie went to Sydney with only ,£l2, and interviewed solicitors with a view to amusing for his wife's maintenance. He had held the ranK of captain in the Forces. He put in letters .he had written as showing his bona fides in the mat tor. , , ~ , . His Worship: I think tha; these letters show lliat this man plainly deserted liis wife. The defendant said that lie had no money when he landed in New //mland, ill"! he lie".- had a farm at Taupaki, which had been bought with money provided bv another person. ' His Worship: Who is this other per--6011? , Sir. Gray: The other person Is a woman. ' His Worship: T see;.that is hue whole of the secret, SUIIer- get much clearer. Sir. Grav stated that title farm was part dairy and'part orchard, and that if the defendant were taken away there would be considerable loss on fruit and potatoes. In reply to Ilis Worsliip the defendant hesitatingly admitted that the other lad? came from' Australia with him, though lint from Victoria. Detective Serge.mt Hammond: Not only timt, but she came from' England with liini, and came across from Australia here as his wife. His Worship staled that he could not •In--the case, and the only thing lie had to''consider was the nuestion of hardship to the defendant . The circumstances . seemed to show that the hardship would not be upon him. but' upon "the other woman/' whose 'money had cone inlo tho farm. His actions had lield up the receipt bv the wife of pension money sho should have got. An order of extradition would Ik made.