WIFE'S AMAZING DECLARATION

NZ Truth, Issue 1302, 27 November 1930, Page 2

WIFE'S AMAZING DECLARATION

TELLS HUSBAND SHE WILL FORSAKE THE PATH OF "DROVE ME TO IT," SAYS MRS. COLE (From "N.Z. Truth 's" Special Wellington Representative.) J It was an- amaiing letter, and when taxed with § I having declared mit to her husband, George William § ,"■§ Caddie Cole, that she would become an immoral woman 1 | and her daughters also, the wife, Emily Harriett Cole, , § 1 informed Mr. T.B. McNeil, S.M., that what she meant § | was that her husband 's conduct towards her would drive | | her to such an extremity. ' . . | •

APPLYING for maintenance for herself and one child, the wife; was told by the. magistrate s that she was m a much better position . than most wives who. applied- for relief to -the court. , a" . Mrs. Cole's version of the couple's domestic tribulations, was that she was living with her three children m a sixroomed house which Abelbng;ed to her husband. She had' had a' nervous breakdown, ahd .this necessitated her eldest daughter staying at- home with her.. She was .unable to work herself, but the second child, a girl of 17, was earning- 25/- a week. The third child •was a boy, 13 years of age, but he was

not. -working.' '.--. Up till. recently she a ' had been getting y£3 a week from her husban4, hut at the present time he was paying her only £ i a . week. With the exception of , 10/- a week that' she >yas getting from her second "daughter, who was keeping herself, she had no other . source of income. "What was your husband's behavior , like?" asked her counsel, Mr. H. Bollard. Mrs. Cole: It was horrible k He was always m the back yard at night, hanging-: round to see what I was doing! He v was up there this morning threatening" me if I came to court. "On Saturday night," continued"

the wife, "I had .to get police protection. v lf Igo out he gets into the house, and when I return he knocks me about. He doesn't strike me— just pulls me about." Mrs. Cole declared that her husband was working for the Wellington City 'Council and was earning £5/12/- a wje'ek: He owned two houses, the one m which she was. then living and ani other at Stokes Valley: The house she v occupied was worth £1800 ahd the I other about £850. Both premises were furnished, the insurance on the contents of one being £200, and on those of the other, £100. . Besides his earnings from the Council Cole also carried on a business of making and selling gramophones, and at one time vyas earning £5 a week at .this oc- . cupation. However, he had not been making that amount lately. He lived at the shop where he conducted this business. . Besides the two . incomes already mentioned he had been getting a fifth share m his sisterls estate. He also had a onotor-car 'for which he paid £350 cash. . Counsel: Do. you know if he has any money in' the hank? — He has cheque books. 'He. ,has. also a small amount of about £5 m the Post Offlce Savings Bank. ' ' : . A ■• - At no time during, ypur married life your husba,nd had cause' to complain of your conduct ?— No. In- reply to Mr. P. Jackson, counsel for Cole, Mrs. Cole said that she and her husband had been living apart for four years, N and during t!hat time she had resided m his house. She paid no rent, and the rates and other expenses were. met by her husband. Mr. Jackson: Up till three weeks ago your husband paid you £3 a week? —Yes. . . • • And before that he'' gave you £4 a week?— Yes; '-„-'!-.. So that with free rent you weren't doing badly? — It wasn't much. Do you earn anything yourself?-- No. Have you ever tried? — No. You have been giving your husband a rough time lately? — No, Sir.'' ■ Haven't you abused him and called- him everything you could lay' your tongue on? — No. '"■•'., And when you \ started' abusing him he dropped the maintenance ?— I have never abused him.. ■'-... - Mr. Jackson then showed the wife a letter, which she admitted having writ-

getting a penny' out of it? — He gets it through the Public Trust. He is a man who gives you £3 or £4. a week. Not bad is he? — To himself. ' ' ' > , To Mr. Bollard, Mrs. Cole said that there was nothing m the suggestion that she would lead an immoral life. The magistrate asked what was the husband's attitude m the matter. It appeared that' he Intended to .maintain his wife, and if that were, so an order could be made without his being' called on to give evidence. Mr. Jackson replied that Cole was prepared to pay , maintenance, but at the present time was unable to pay

£3 a week. He considered that he should pay 30/- a week to Mrs. . Cole, and 15/- a week to the boy under 16. Mrs. Cole:- That is not. enough; / .. The Magistrate: The girl who is 21 should be able to get work. Mrs. Cole: She has been ill lately. •Mr. Jackson repeated that £2/5/--a week should be all that Cole should pay, but Mrs. Cole insisted that this was not enough. Mr. Jackson : If you. got £10 a week you would want £ 11. . "He spends it all on other women," was Mrs. Cole's countei\ Mr. Bollard, conferred with Mrs. Cole and then announced to the

court that she was prepared' to accept £2/10/- a week. The Magistrate remarked that Mrs. Cole had been getting £3 a week, but on account- of . something! or other had lost that. "The girl .aged 21 should be able to earn something," he said. "She is not an invalid." "The other girl is earning,".continued Mr. McNeil. "Mrs. Col© has a furnished house rent free, to live m, Besides the maintenance her husband pays her. She is m a better position than others who * come to this court." "We say that her husband is also m a better position than others who come here," remarked Mb. Bollard. ' The magistrate fixed the maintenance at 30/- a week for Mrs. Cole and 15/- a week for the boy, conditionally on their being allowed to live m the house rent free. Cole was also to pay £6 baclf maintenance.