WIFE'S UNIQUE COMPLAINT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2322, 30 August 1921, Page 4

WIFE'S UNIQUE COMPLAINT.

“HAND-WASHING'’ HUSBAND,

SEPARATION REFUSED

A hand-washing monomania was one of the extraordinary allegations brought against Clarence Kobottom by Mabel Robottom, in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court last week, before Mr Mosley, S.M. Mr W. I'. Tracey appeared for the complaiuant, and Mr R. A. Cnthbert for the defendant.

Complainant, alleging persistent cruelty by her husband by the undermining of her nerves, asked for separation, maintenance, and guardianship orders.

Mr Tracey said the wife asserted her husband’s conduct toward her, though it had never gone to the extent of nos uni violence, had reduced her to such a state that she was literally in absolute terror of him. Some of the wife’s allegations vert* unique, It appeared the defendant had a sort of monomania

for washing his hands, and some ol the things complainant would say would appear almost incredible. Medical men would say that it was impossible for, the womnja to'live with him, For instance, he would not eat bread that had been touched.

“Do you allege that as persistent cruelty?” asked the magistrate. Mr Tracey: It is undermining her mental health. He added that when the man started to ride his bicycle the handle grips must be wrapped in paper which had not. been touched on the inside. He would use a handkerchief only once, and threw it down, when his wife bad to pick it upr He forced this monomania on his wife, who was in terror of him.

Complainant in her evidence said her husband used his handkerchiefs only once, and his towels only twice, once on either side. If anything fell to the tloor it had to be washed or scalded. He had warned her against touching his newspapers, because he had to use them in shav-

The Magistrate: It is the first time 1 have heard it alleged in a court of law that such a thing as washing hands is an act of cruelty. I cannot imagine it can be so. Mr Cutlibert: Did it occur to you that your husband, being a barber, would have Jo, be specially careful in washing his hands?- He could do it in five minutes, and need not take a, quarter of an hour over it. William Stewart Robinson, of Christchurch, merchant, said he was a. brother-in-law of the parties. The defendant had been working in his shop. lie had frequently washed his hands during'his employment. It got on to witness’ nerves, though lie was not neurotic. Witness got rid of him because he could not ending it any longer. He had seen defendant cut the crust off a loaf ami throw if into the fire before eating the bread.

Mr Cutlibert submitted there was no case against the defendant, nothing being alleged that constituted 'persistent cruelty, or even cruelty at all. There was admittedly some lack of /flection between husband and wife. Defendant’s •.•risibilities regarding cleanliness were rather commendable than otherwise. .He denied monomania, but even assuming iht; allegations to he tnu, L would merely amount to n form of eccentricity. At most it constituted annoyance which might get °n one - nerves, but then it was well known that half of mankind gm on the tfrher half’s nerves.

The defendant's evidence bore our his counsel’s statement. He declared lie- only washed hi- hands before meals. The magistrate dismissed the case, remarking that persistent cruelty had not been proved.