ILL-MATED COUPLE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1928, Page 4

ILL-MATED COUPLE

HAMILTON, July 5,

The matrimonial differences of a young married couple, Violet Ruth, and Horace AVilliam Burrell,,, were aired before Mr S. L. Paterson today, when tho wife applied for « separation order aiid maintenance on the grounds of alleged persistent cruelty. Applicant, a smartly dressed little woman, whoso parents, live at Takapuna, told a lengthy story of her husband’s misdeeds, in which she alleged that they had enjoyed only about one month’s happiness, after being married., She alleged that lie seized her by tlie hair on one occasion and flung; her across a room, causing her to he laid up for some time. Another time, when he ordered a young lady friend from the house, lie jammed her (plaintiff) against a wall with a suit case, after which she was very ill. She, was in a precarious state of health at the time. He had beeu guilty of other acts of cruelty, and he had also threatened to take his life on several occasions. He had actually taken an irritant poison. Further, he had threatened to “nut something in her food, and. would send her to sleep for ever.” They were still living in the same house, but she was afraid to take any food unless she knew how it had been prepared. She asked foi; £4 a week maintenance for herself and two children.

The husband, who is employed in Auckland, had a different tale to tell. He said that his wife had an uncontrollable temper, and any alleged violence on his part was merely to resist her onslaughts. They were reasonably happy until his wife commenced to. go out at night without his knowledge, and refused to give an account of her doings. She had complained of the humdrum of married life, and declared she wanted to get hack to. the city. The magistrate intimated that a separation order would be made, as both were agreed that they could not continue to live together. lie hinted that tlie wife would not be granted tlie amount of maintenance asked, and remarked that she could not expect to he kept in clover for the rest of her days. He adjourned the case to enable the parties to arrive at a sum satisfactory to both.