ORDERED OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 11

ORDERED OUT

RICHARDS IN COURT

COUNSEL HARANGUED

David James Richards, aged 54. a re-1 tired professor, entertained' a Crowded Court when he came before 'Mr. -W: i\ Stilwell, S.M., today on two charges of being in arrears of maintenance, one in respect of his wife and another relating to his child. In replying to the alle. gations that ho" owed £12 for. his wife's maintenance and £3 for his' child's maintenance, he'stated that lie had been the victim . of. the .'.'sharp practice" of a AVcllington firm.-.of. solicitors. After ho had'been sentenced to a term of imprisonment unless he pays; he was removed from the Court at the direction ■ of, the Magistrate; ." . I _ Asked by the Magistrate why he had not paid the niaitonanee due, Eichards said that ho had riot the money to pay it. "I have'been persecuted by unseruI pulous, callous mortgagees duViiig - the last six months," he. said,: and;ie went1 i on.to say that to save a property in .which he was interested and on'which he owed £2 10s he had had to pay £100. and had been; presented with a bill for £30 in costs. The solicitors concerned he called "unscrupulous, callous, sharp .practitioners.*:? He .'had applied to the Court forrelief in iespect of another property in which he was interested,, he, said,. but a ' 'shamefully wrong judgment" had been given in that case. In tho. last 31 weeks he had had only £.44 to live, on. ;

Mr. Stilwell asked for and examined the defendant's Post .Ofiice Savings l^ank book. Richards said that he had i about fi.2 in the account. ...-•-.

Turning to the many counsel waiting in Court/Richards excitedly harangued them on his dealings with the firm of solicitors he had. previously mentioned, describing them as "callous, unscrupulous devils." ''It's a' legal swindle. That's the word," he, cried, and he launched into an impassioned. tirade against Ms.-wife;. "Here's the Bible. I swear it," he said.

"Don't be silly, man," was Mi-. Stilwell's advice, to which .Richards replied that he would not say it if it were not true. Mr. Stilwcll told him to keep quiet. ■ - . ■ ■' -

"The position is this/ said Mr. Stilwell, "that you have had money, in your Savings Bank, account, and. for reasons you deem, fit you have paid it to solicitors, and other sources, but you have to remember that there is an order of the Court'in respect of the maintenance 'of your wife and child. >', "1 would have to pay my legal'debts even if she were living: with me. I'm. not going bankrupt .for'this woman or anybody else," replied Eiehards. ." ;

The Magistrate Richards-to bring on an application for variation of the maintenance order if he felt^justified. He convicted.Richards on> both charges and on the one relating .to. his wife he sentenced him to one month's imprisonment, to be released on pay; nient of £12. On the charge relating to the child he imposed a sentence of ten days' ■ •imprisonment,', to .".be; released on payment of £3:. The sentences weje to be concurrent.. . . ;, 7..: ■"■■'*■. .' 7

"Fifteen "pounds?" exclaimed Richards.' "How cm I do. ,j.t? I haven *t got it". '- .--. Counsel for the wif # c; Mr.' G. ft. G. Watson, began to' address Mr. StilweH on the question of arrears when he was interrupted by Richards. .

"Send him but," directed the Magistrate, and■\Riehaifls was piloted- outside by the Court orderly. "This man is labouring under a sense of very great injustice, most of it imaginary, no doubt," commented the Magistrate. . Mr. Watson suggested tliat the Magis-. trate suspend the warrant for imprisonment as long as current -maintenance was being paid, because as soon as Richards fell.. into : arrears Ue disappeared and it took weeks, sometimes, months, to, find- him;/ but they: never had any difficulty; in getting • payment while a warrant was over his head. V The Magistrate said he would not mak-e the order as asked in' the present; instance because of the -smallness of the amount in the informations, but he was prepared to consider it jf the defendant was brought up again." '

Costs amotmting to £1- J.S- "were allowed against Bichards..