WIFE WHO DESERTED

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1930, Page 6

WIFE WHO DESERTED

SEEKS SHARE OF HUSBAND’S WILL.

(By Telegraph—Presa A»aooiatiou>

HAAiiTON, April 9

“If 1 were to grant this application it would be an inducement for wives to leave their husbands and to live with paramours, and then to seek provision under the wills of their husbands who, bad committed suicide by reason of their wives’ misconduct,” remarked Judge Smith, in refusing an application by Beatrice Alary Jane Slater, who resides in Hamilton, for consideration under the will of' her late husband, Arthur Samuel Slater. One June 14th. last, Slater committed suicide at Tipopo, iii Taranaki. He and his wife had been married 20 years and bad reared eight children. In November, 1928, the wife left him. Subsequently she ■ admitted adultery with one, Atacken, at Frankton, where sue stayed. Her husband had tried to get her to return, and had left Taruaki and bought a farm at Alorrinsville. He then saw a letter written by his wife to .her daughter, in which the writer said that she would find it difficult to return.

In his will made in April last, the husband epnrplctely disinherited bis wife, leaving an estate valued at..over £2OOO to his eight children. Air Del am ere ATofe,' Public Trustee, who opposed the application, said that a series of letters written by the wife to Alaeken, prior to the discovery of adultery at Frankton, showed that there bad been continuous misconduct, which, in fact, continued to this day. In refusing the application His Honour told the woman that she should apply to her paramour for assistance. Her conduct was clearly a bar to vailing the will.