ALLEGED WIFE DESERTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 250, 1 March 1911, Page 7

ALLEGED WIFE DESERTION

WAITARA SOLICITOR IN TROUBLE. Walter Wilkes. YVaitara, was before ■Mr. 11. S. Fitzhcrbert, S.M., at the local court yesterday on a charge that he did intend" to fail'to provide his wife, Amy Mildred Wilkes, with adequate maintenance. Mrs. Wilkes further sought an order directing her husband to provide her and her child with such maintenance as the Court might think reasonable. Defendant was arrested at Ashburton on Friday, and remanded to appear at New Plymouth at 11 a.m. yesterday. When his name was called by the Court orderly at that time, however, defendant did not appear. Sergeant Haddrell said that Wilkes had been bailed out at Wellington. Mr. Johnstone, who appeared for Mrs. Wilkes, said that he had been advised that Wilkes was at Stratford last night, and was coming on to New Plymouth bv the train due here at 10.45 a.m. The train might be late. Mr. Fitzherbert directed that the case stand down until after the civil business had been disposed of.

About ten minutes later defendant made his appearance, and it was found that the train bad arrived late.

When the case was called on again, defendant, who had been in consultation with Air. Johnstone, pleaded "not guilty." His request that he be allowed to conduct his case from the floor of the Court was granted. Defendant: I ask your Worship for an adjournment for three hours. Counsel for the complainant, I understand, has no objection.

Mr. Johnstone: I have no objection, sir. Mr. Fitzherbert: With a view to some kind of arrangement, I suppose. An adjournment until 2.30 p.m. was then granted.

When the case was called in the afternoon Mr. Johnstone asked that it be adjourned a little longer. He was in hope that something could be done towards a reasonable settlement.

The case was further adjourned for half an hour, accordingly, but at the end of that time was again adjourned until this morning.