SHANNON MAINTENANCE CASE.

Shannon News, 18 July 1924, Page 3

SHANNON MAINTENANCE CASE.

separation ORDER GRANTED

In the Levin Magistrate’s Court yesterday, beiore Mr J. L. Stout, Dorotny May Donghi made application* against.' Albert Edward Dotighi tor maintenance and separation orders. Mr Moody appeared, lor the applicant and Mr K. E. Adams lor tne defence.

Mr Moody, in outlining the casd for the .applicant explained that tne parties had been married in November, 1923, and had lived first with the husband’s people at Waipawa, and alterward with the wife’s at .Shannon. At both of these places there had been persistent cruelty. .On several occasions applicant had been locked out of the house by her husband and on two occasions defendant had caught his wife by the throat, leaving finger marks. On, another occasion he had struck his wife on the mouth cutting her lip. The mentality of the plaintiff .was peculiar. On one occasion he had threatened to cut his throat and pretended to do so. Dongiii had always brought home the food purchased and had locked it merely allowing sufficient for one meal .at‘a time. Several times he had threatened to, leave his wife amd had stated that he would swing before he would maintain her.

iDorqthy Mary Donghi gave evidence that she,was married on the 7th No- ! vember, 1923. She had lived at Wai--1 pawa for some time and in January had .come, to Shannon to live with her father. During the time they had lived at Waipawa her husband had locked her out oil one occasion for about half an hour. At Waipawa her husband had made a threat to cut his throat and had sharpened his razor. He had then gone outside and pretended he had out his throat. She had gone outside and found her husband lying down pretending to be dead. Her husband’s people had advised her to leave him and go home to her people because of her husband’s ill-treat-ment of .her. At Shannon, her husband had several itimes struck her on the mouth with his fist cutting her lips. She had given him no. cause whatever for doing this. On one occasion he hajd caught her by the throat. She (had called out to- her father],land he had come in. The matter was talked over and her husband promised to behave better in future. On another, occasion he had done the same thing. Several times he had threatened to leave her .and had stated that he would swing on the gallows rather than keep her. She had never received any money from her husband beyond an occasional sixpence to buy a loaf, of bread. Any large amount of groceries her husband would always'buy, but he had not supplied sufficient food. He had bought only a hat .and some dress material for her since they were married and would not give her ,th*e money for the purpose, getting his mother to buy the goods ) Richard Thomas Roberts, brother of the' previous witness gave evidence that “ the .defendant had been 1 living with his people since about December. On one occasion his sister had called out and he, on going in, found his sister at the foot of the bed without covering whilst Donghi was wrapped in the blankets. On another occasion his 8 sister had come into the room wljere he was and complained that her husband had struck her. Her lips were bleeding on this occasion. On still another occasion his sister had called out and they had seen marks on her throat. As the result of the defendant’s ill-treatment,; his ' family had ordered Donghi -to leave.

Cross-examined, witness stated that his father was an invalid. ItHvas not correct that the family had got Mrs Donghi to return in order to look after her father. It was Quite correct that he had heard quarrels lasting all night between his sister and her hus-