MARITAL TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1920, Page 9

MARITAL TROUBLES.

I WIFE SEEKS SEPARATION. I ' CRUELTY ALLEGED. Married, in Sydney in 1878, and after '"enduring" m-iirimonial ties for the greater part of forty-two years, a woman of 02 years yesterday sought u maintenance and separation order in t ! n X"w l'lymoitfh Cvrttrt. The complainant, Emma Whitehead, alleged that hi-.r husband, Frederick Whitehead, had failed to provide her with adequate maintenance and also that lie had been guiky of persistent cruelty. Mr. H. I!. Billing appealed for the wife and the husband wits represented by Mr. Frank Wilson. Mr. Billing said there were seven surviving of the nine children of the mar•riagc, and the youngest was now twentytwo. Mrs. Whitehead had left home on two or three occasions 011 account of illtreatment and abuse at the hands of her husband and her son Robert. For the last two years she had not resided at home, and during the past twenty months she had received nothing for support. Defendant had a farm of about, 400 acres at Omata and his wife had assisted in the work but got nothing out of it.

111 her evidence, complainant made various allegations of ill-treatment. She said that she hadn't only her husband to contend with, but had j? field in her son Robert as well. On one occasion she alleged he harnessed up the pony and told her to get oft' tho place. This son practically ran the place and spent moro than half of what was earned on the farm.

Cross-examined by Mr. Wilson, witness said she had left home on one wcasioh about six years ago and stayed away about eighteen months. At that time her husband was only two days ont of hospitg.l, where he had been seriously ill.

Counsel: Didn't you think he was going to die?—l rover thought such a thing; I knew hs was too tough to die. The complainant admitted being in receipt of an old age pension. His Worship IMr. Biiley): What did you say in the application ibout your husband's property?—l told Seal thai as far as I knew, it was heavily mortgaged, Mr. Wilson said unfortunately the family life had not been too bappy, and an unbridled tongue on the part of the wife had been the cause the trouble. She had estranged the other members of the family from herself k:A had chosen to leave home on several ojcaaiom when so inclined, and to to.kir.jr her tim# in "illuming. Deferent -.cas ciiire willing to contribute to the support of his wife but it was a quest:';:- of the be should pay. Ho wiuld have to consul', his son (at present in Wellington), but had already mew f. personal offer of a contribution g? S;Jeen shillings and this had been refused.

Frederick Whitehead said that it was only for the children's' sake that lie and l'.is wife had livuil together. He denied, being cruel i<ur: abusive, but may l»,w. cabled his wife a<; fool. She T?a? constantly quarrel Uajr, and at one perio;] went three wee!-.:; without speaking i> word. His wife had left him on & dozen occasions and wns in the- habit of packing up every wsdi. At owe period she was away for Ttsjferiy three years, It was now two year; since the last occasion she left, and had not been baek since.

The -case was adjourned by His Worship for three v.'ceks in order to hear the evidence of Hobert Whitehead re garding his father's financial position. Counsel intimated there was a possibility of an agreement being reached in the meantime.