A MATRIMONIAL MISTAKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2152, 7 August 1907, Page 4

A MATRIMONIAL MISTAKE.

A SPORT-LOVING WIFE.

At the Auckland Police Court on July 30th Charles Haslain Holland, a carter, residing at Dovonport, and his wife, Annie Kate Holland, each appeared in tho double role oi complainant and defendant in separate applications for separation. Mr. J. R. Lundon, who appeared for the husband, contended that as his client had got his complaint in first, he was entitled to pose as applicant. The .trouble arose principally from the racecourse propensities of the wife. Holland himself seldom went near one.

“Why he is >a bookie. All the men on North Shore go and got d-n hies’ off him.”

Holland denied this impeachment, and said that during six years of married life she had cleared out nine times. In all that period she had never once prepared his breakfast.. Instead of spending her household money on groceries she put it on tho totalisator. While ho was away at work she would take it into her head to clear out, taking all tho furniture with her.

The S.M.: She charges you with cruelty. Now, wliat is it?—Well, I don’t know, but she hit me across the. nose with a poker last time, and then went round smashing tho crockery and pictures. That was in June, and I haven’t seen iher since till today. Last January she wont' away, and sold all the furniture for 2s or 3s.

And how long has this sort of thing been going on?—Ever since we wero married. She wound up last time by chasing mo round the house with an axe.

The wife: Do you swoar that you never laid doubles to men on North Shore, to jockeys, and to ferry-boat men?— Of course I do.

Have you paid out £5 on last meeting? I did not lay any doubles. I took a double from a man at £5 to 30s, but I never laid one. The wife went into the box, and denied that she had sold the household. furniture. She accounted for her recent disappearance by stating that she had been up at Rotorua In servioe.

His Worship decided that as each seemed eager to escape the other, he would ajourn the case sine die, with the understanding that the husband would contribute 7s 6d per week towards the wife’s support.