MISSED THE BULLS-EYE

NZ Truth, Issue 1183, 2 August 1928, Page 5

MISSED THE BULLS-EYE

Yet Counsel Said He Had Three Shots At Matrimony

(From "N.Z. Truth's'?' 1 Special Auckland Representative.)

In his opening remarks to : Magistrate Hunt last Week, Lawyer McLiver, speaking of the defendant m the case, Albert- Anderson, observed : "When the defendant gets intch the box he Won 't be found the angel he makes himself out to be." 7 '„'. @

BUT Albert did. not go as : far as the witness-box, though his wife,

Eileen Grace Anders.on, who had, brought her troubles to the. foot Of' the throne of Justice, was able -per medium of her lawyer to tell the world some of her domestic ructions.

v Married four years ago, announced Lawyer McLiver, Eileen's husband was a master plasterer, living m a house worth £2000, which boasts a billiardroom 'and melody , m 'the form of a 'player-piano.

Such had been Albert's treatment of his wife that she was now a nervous wreck, it was alleged.

"He recently ,gave her two shil- ,. lings to get out with," said her lawyer. "His wife had done all the work of the home, but he had never even provided her with a pram to take her child out m." To Magistrate Hunt: "She's never left him before." ;

Evidently Eileen's married life, m spite of luxuries m the way of music arid billiards, was far from one of skittles, for counsel '•

added that she had

been . ill-used and •knocked .about.

At this, stage Lawyer Scantlebury rose to say that

it was absolutely impossible for the two to go on living together; so well did he realize this, that Albert had asked her again and again to consult a solicitor, so as' to come to some 'form of agreement. ' . . "Only last week,!' stated the'husband's lawyer, "the- wife attacked her husband. Her allegations of cruelty were untrue." ' ' .

"That's incorrect, sir," interrupted the wife's lawyer.

"Will you. keep quiet?" retorted; the other, legal man. . •.,'■' And he went on to explain that they had; come before a magistrate that the bench might decide.: The x S:-M. ■' remarked: "I'll fix that m five minutes!" .■; Lawyer" McLiver accused the' husband of "mud-slinging" 'and gave some of his reasons.

Lawyer Scantlebury replied that it was needless dirt. /"His dirt," was the rejoinder. '

Continuing to speak his bit, Lawyer McLiver remarked: "He's been anxious to get rid of his wife arid get a divorce later." \ ■ . • "He's mad three shots at matrimony — and tlfis ought to be .his last," : fired back th<J husband's-: champion.;

His Wife's Attack

Albert was willing to agree to a separation, if the allegations of cruelty were persisted m, he would fightrk to the last ditch. Some reference was made by the bench to Albert's other obligations and about coming back for a reduction of the order. .

While the legal men and the bench argued, "about it and about," Eileen raised her hand, and, indicating a line across her eyes, very ■audibly butted m: "Mr. Anderson's mother was present when he hit me across the face." She said, it with sobs. '■•■..

Magistrate Hunt thought it might be as well if the couple retired for five minutes and 'endeavored to settle their differences. . ■ ■

All parties retired, to come back some time later and announce to the bench that they had agreed to an order -by consent, with separation. Albert was to allow his wife £2/10/.---a week for herself and child; further, he was to transfer to her a third in- ■■- — !__•_._ , terest m a second mortgage, valued at £300. That this might be" given effect to, m correct le.gal manner,- Magistrate Hunt adjourned thecase sine die. Before leaving the courtroom, Lawyer Scantlebury, asked permission to make v a statement to the court to dispel any misunderstanding so far as Albert was concerned, -the press being ■present. - ..■..,-■ He went , on to say that defendant denied any charge of cruelty. "His story- is," said the lawyer, "that he was attacked by his wife and called m the police. . ■ ' "As. to,. the 2/-, he had only 19/10 on him w,hen . he , had to .pay for a taxi (apparently at the time of the oolice incident) and he gave his wife 2/- out of 2/4 he had left." ', Reverting to the house which had been stated by Lawyer McLive'to be so valuable, it was a aoj|r house, but m. the .wrong locality, which detracted from its value. Getting m a final shot before the two lawyers picked up their papers and departed, Counsel McLiiver i;e-mai-ked: "He'd have had more money if he had not lost £60 odd at the races at : Christmas." . „ ■;',... .. ".-..■