COURT CONTEMPT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1932, Page 5

COURT CONTEMPT

APOLOGY MADE PROFESSOR SHOUTS ABl/SE, i (Per Press Association— Copyright.) f ; , WELLINGTON, August 1.

Shouting at the top of his voice, abusing his wife ( and her solicitor in strong terms, and gesticulating wildly David James Richards, a former University professor, as. led out of the Magistrate’s Court this morning in custody, for contempt of court. Richards and his wife have appeared in the Courts a number of times over matrimonial affairs, and recently, separation and maintenance orders were made in favour of the wife, and were the subject of a judgment by Justice Ostler last Monday! Richards was charged with being in. arrears on an order made for the support of his wif e and child and after . hearing evidence,, Mr'Woodward, S. M,, adjourned the case until to-day to allow defendant to produce a certain statement dealing with his financial position. When the case wag called, Richards immediately commenced allegations about hU Wife, and -: he Was warned Several times by the Magistrate. The warning quietened defendant tcmpor* arily, but he repeatedly interrupted, , At length the Mngisnwie told .the Court Orderly to take Piclmds in ohairge for contempt of Court, and take him outside. When Richards wa« brought hack to the Court this afternoon hi? apologised to the Magistrate for his bihavious. i

He again went info the witness-box, and after hearing him further, the Magistrate sentenced him to one months’ imprisonment,, the warrant to be suspended if he pars £ 3 O, • plus current maintenance , forthwith, and £SO within the, cf August.