HOME- WRECKER RUINS HER LIFE

NZ Truth, Issue 1179, 5 July 1928, Page 9

HOME- WRECKER RUINS HER LIFE

Once Happy Mother Is Thrown Into Discard When Husband Succumbs To Infatuation

ENTER THE OTHER WOMAN AND EXIT THE WIFE

(From ,f N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) Across the peaceful home, m. which happiness had reigned, there fell the sinister shadow of another Womanwho blotted out the joy of life for Daisy Ellis, of Christchurch, and within a few days brought the structure of marital bliss m ruins about her ears. The other woman was a Mrs. Ringrose. i ■ ■■..«•■'

BRUTALLY told by her husband that he had ceased to love lier and that he wanted a separation, Mrs. Ellis pleaded m, vain. The power of the other woman was too strong; the wife could not hold the man who had promised to cherish her on that once happy wedding day. Sore at heart, powerless to hold him, Mrs. .Ellis finally agreed to a separation, under which he was to pay £2 10s. per week maintenance for his wife and sevehteen-months-old baby. No sooner was the deed signed than the man who had so ruthlessly thrown his wife into the discard threw up his job as a butcher without notice and went to Dunedin with the other woman — a Mrs. Ringrose, a woman described by Lawyer C. S. Thomas as being "no good." Ellis paid one week's maintenance and then it came to the ears of his, wife that he intended to decamp to Australia with Mrs. Ringrose. She had him arrested and at Christchurch last week Magistrate H. P. Lawry made orders for separation, guardianship and maintenance. It was a pathetic story that was told to the court by the wife. - Mrs. Ellis, a good-looking, smartlydressed young woman, related how she had been thrown aside by her infatuated husband. Lawyer Thomas informed the court that Mrs. Ringrose was a woman who had caused trouble m other parts. He elicited from Ellis himself m the box that she Avas the same woman who had figured m the tragic death of George Eric Kerr, who was found dead at Sumner a few weeks ago. Soon after Mrs. Ringrose appeared on the scene to disturb the happiness of the home, said counsel, Ellis told his wife that he was "done" with her. He said he wanted a separation, and, his Avife finally consenting, an agreement was drawn up. "I pointed out at the time," said counsel, "that it was not right that Mrs. Ellis should be discarded like an old glove, but she considered m the circumstances that it Avas the only thing she could do." IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM

The next thing that wes known about Ellis was that he had cleared out to Dunedin "with Mrs. Ringrose. The belief his wife held that it was his intention to leave the country had led to his arrest, as it was quite clear that he was not m a position to keep his wife and the other woman as well. Ellis had made one or two payments under the agreement, hut it was for the bench to say whether the transaction was a bona fide one. Mrs. Ellis having given evidence along the lines of her counsel's opening remarks, Lawyer Thomas called Ellis to the witness-box. He did not^ seem a bit perturbed under examination and openly confessed his love foi 4 ' Mrs. Ringrose. After the agreement with his wife was drawn up, he left his employment and went to Dunedin with the other woman. Lawyer Thomas: That was the woman who caused all this trouble m your home? — No, not altogether. You went to Dunedin with Ringrose; where did you stay there? — I went to a married brother's place. And you went off without telling anybody; not even your employer, whom you left without notice? Why did you not tell your employer? — I did

not want anybody to know I was going. Why not?— Well; I did not know how things were going to go. What things? What do you mean by "things"? — My separation. "But you already had your separation on the Thursday prior to your departure for Dunedin on the Sunday night." The Bench: What about all this worry and secrecy when going away? Where did you stay m Christchurch before you left for the south? — At the Trocadero. Lawyer Thomas: "Supposing you had not paid that money to your wife before you went away, how was she going to get on with a child of seventeen months to look after? You were careering round the country living with this other woman . . ." Ellis: "I was not living with her. , I was merely staying m the same house." . Lawyer Thomas: "Well, then, if you are not living with her, what are you doing with her?"— No answer. "What are you doing with this woman if you are not living with her, I ask you?"— Again no answer. ! Why did you go away with Mrs.

Ringrose? She is a married woman, is she not? — Yes, but living apart from her husband. / ' . Well, you are interfering there, are you, not? — She is: separated from her husband. Have you ever misconducted yourself with this woman?— No, sir. Well, what are you doing with her? What are your intentions towards her? — I intend to marry her at the end of three years. 1 Oh, I see. Well, how are you going to keep both your wife and this other woman? — I will marry her if I can get a divorce. Yes, but even if you do get a divorce, you will 'Still have to keep your wife. What money does this other woman get? — She gets an allowance every week from her husband. She gets about £2 per week. The Bench: "And do you think, he is likely to pay her that if he knows she Is carrying on with you?" — No answer. Lawyer Roy Twyneham (for Ellis) : You admit you are fond of this woman?— Yes; sir. And does she cost you anything to keep? — No, sir. Lawyer Thomas: You know this woman is not too much good, don't ybu?— l wouldn't' believe It if you told me. But you know she was, m a way, responsible s for that unfortunate fatality at Sumner a few weeks back? — Yes, I know that. • Lawyer Twyneham submitted that there was no evidence to support the making of an order on the grounds of failure to maintain. It was certainly foolish on the part of, Ellis to be lured away by his fascination foV this other woman, but nothing had been heard m evidence to suggest that Ellis intended failing to support his wife. It was not as though he had endeavored to evade his responsiblities, as the first thing he did when he reached Dunedin was to disclose the fact that he was down there. The magistrate quickly made up his mind, however, and granted Mrs. Ellis the orders she had asked for.