MOTHER AND SONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 45, 21 February 1913, Page 7

MOTHER AND SONS.

Auckland, February 1 1. An unusual case of unhappy relationship between a mother and her twb sons was discussed at the Magistrate s Court, when, Rose Somerville Ryan, a woman close on 60 years of age, applied for maintenance orders against her two sons—-William Somerville and James Somerville Ryan, The 'woman stated that she had three sons altogether, but she did not know the whereabout of one of them. She owned a house, which brought her in 17s a week, but it cost her 14s 6d a week for interest and for rent of the room in which she lived. She was provtically destitute. Counsel for complainant put in a letter written by one of tlm sons (William Somerville) in reply to a request for a contribution to his mother’s support. The letter referred to the recent shooting case, in which the girl concerned (the daughter of tlie applicant in the present case), tired at a local dentist, and said that that incident had made both the mother and daughter criminal. “I absolutely refuse to recognise her as my mother,” the letter concluded. In giving evidence, William Somerville stated that he had not recognised the plaintiff as his mother for IB years, and had dropped the surname of Ryan. He had been suffering badly from consumption for three years, and was unable properly to support his | own wife and children. Tlie other j son (John Somerville Ryan) stated that his mother had a valuable property at Devonport worth £4OO. He was married and had two children, and, being heavily in debt, could afford no contribution. The Magistrate commented on the fact that Mrs Ryan was the owner of a valuable property, and refused to make any order.