CLAIM FOR MAINTENANCE OF CHILD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2597, 23 June 1923, Page 3

CLAIM FOR MAINTENANCE OF CHILD.

At the local S.M. Court yesterday before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., Ivy Jane Hartley (Mr Bergin) proceeded against Ernest Smith (Mr Cooper) for maintenance -of child of which she alleged defendant was the father.

Mr Bergin in outlining the case, said that complainant had been keeping company with defendant for some five years. As a consequence a child had been bom, of which Smith was the alleged father. The defendant, in evidence, said she had been keeping company with Smith for five years. Plaintiff detailed particulars of intercourse who, upon being informed of her condition, promised to marry her at Christmas. In further cross examination by Mr Cooper, plaintiff denied intercourse with other men. Evidence as to confinement was given by Dr. Wyllie. A sister of defendant in evidence stated that, she had seen plaintiff and defendant together but had no reason to believe that anything improper had taken place. The mother of plaintiff deposed that defendant was often at the house and her daughter used to go out walking with him on the beach. When she became aware of her daughter’s condition she wrote to Smith and asked him to come and see her but he had not done so. She later met him and he had then promised to come and see her. He did not do so, however. Mr Cooper contended that there was no corroborative evidence. He would like to submit decisions on similar cases. The S.M. reserved, his decision in order to allow counsel to go into the matter of previous rulings.