SCENE IN COURT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 290, 2 August 1932, Page 5

SCENE IN COURT

(Press. Assn.-

MAN REMOYED

EX-UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ABUSES WIFE AND - | SGLICITOR - WARNED FOR CONTEMPT

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

WELLINGTON, Monday Shouting at the top of his voice, abusing his wife and her soljcitor, " and gesticula-ting wildly-, David Richards, a former un'versity pfofessov, was led out of Court fof confcempt of court. ■ „ Richards* and his wife had appeared in court a number of times" (Tver matrimonial affairs, and" • recently maintenance and separation orders mado in favour of the wife, were the subject of a judgment by Mr. Justice Ostler. Last Monday, Richards was charged with behig in arrears with maintenance for the support of his wife " and child, but after hearing evidence, Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M. adjourned tho case until to-day to allow defendant to produce partieularg of his financlal position. When the case was called, defendant was warned several times hy the Magistrate. The warning was effective temporarily, but defendant repeatedly interrupted, and at length the Magistrate ordered the court orderly to take charge of d.efendant, and take him outside. When Richards was brought back this afternoon, he- apologised to the Magistrate for his behaviour, and again went into the witness box. After hearing further evidence, the Magistrate sentenced Richards to one month's imprisonment. Richards was at one time nrofessor of mathematics at Otago University, and married Mis§ Hinemoa Hopkms, one of the first women solicitors to rractice in Wellington. The parties were first at variance over a disputed marriage settiement, and when the wife later petitioned for separation, several unsavoury aspects were 'ntroduced in evidence.