AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE.

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1927, Page 2

AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE.

WIFE OBTAINS SEPARATION. A vase in which a domestic tragedy LulloLcd the marriage of a young couple upon insufficient means was revealed al the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Air \\. Alekhuin >8,A1.., when I’cari Gibbons applied for separation, maintenance ana guardianship orders in respect tf hci>cil and child against he’/ husband, Basil Gibbons, of Gladstone Siding, sawmill employee. Air \\ . ,1. Joyce appeared for plain till, while defendant was not represented by counsel. In opening his case Air Joyce said it was clear that defendant had no intention of maintaining his wife properly. He had doilv nothing to keep his wife since lust .lune although hi* earned about £1 10s a week. His wife went to

work as a domestic ser'Jint in order to keep herself and he continually interfered with her and knocked her about. Since proceedings had been taken de-

fendant had threatened to commit suicide and made other silly statements. Complainant, in evidence, said her husband had failed to provide her with a home. On several occasions he had knockid her about and threatened to “do for” her. Twice he kicked her in riie park and one night he threatened to inrow her in the creek. On another occasion be took her by the throat and pusher her against a. fence. She vas afraid of him. Airs Ivy Vincent said in evidence I bat on one occasion defendant assaulted his wife at witness’s house. lie caught Mrs Gibbons by the throat and pushed her head against the fence. She was crying. Witness came out ami told him to stop it and he told her to go inside and not interfere, saying, “I can do as I like —she’s my wife.” Defendant m the box, said when he was married ho was an apprentice seaman on very small wages and found it very hard to make ends meet. He accumulated debts ami when his wage increased he paid them off and did not >ave money. Ho had a home ready for bis wife now if she wanted to go to it.

wife rushed to the Court for mainten(ance. He did not want to be separated from her. In reply to questions, he said his earnings did not average £4 10s per week. He had been paying off back debts. He did not know exactly how much he had given his wife. Pressed to mention one debt he had paid he failed to do so. He denied ever having struck his wife. Mrs Gibbons, recalled, told His Worship that she was not willing to live with her hnsband. lie denied knocking her about now and he would deny it again. His Worship, in delivering judgment, observed that it was an unfortunate case. Defendant had married when he was not in a position to support a wife nnd he had neglected her. Her evidence as to acts of cruelty was support'll. It was possible that after a few months they would agree to live together and if so the order could be varied or cancelled. On the evidence before him he had lift alternative but to make the orders applied for. 'I he wife wotdd he granted 25/- per week for herself ami child. £3 3s solicitor’s fee would be allowed.