“WOULD NOT WORK”

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1921, Page 6

“WOULD NOT WORK”

A HUSBAND’S BAD HABITS. WIFE SECURES DIVORCE. A story of a husband who never worked during his twelve years of married life, but who, according to his wife, was always drunk and was twice in a mental hospital, was told in a divorce case at the Supreme Court in New Plymouth yesterday afternoon. The petitioner was Frances Sarah Brown, who lives at Hawera, and she asked Mr. Justice Salmond to free her from her matrimonial ties to George Charles Brown. Mr. P. O’Dea appeared for Mrs. Brown, and there was no appearance of Brown* who is believed to be in Christchurch. Airs. Brown said she was married to Brown at Oamaru on April 20, 1899. and she lived with -him till 1911, there behmno children. In May, 1911, witness left, owing to her husband’s “cruelty and drunkenness.” Her husband had not contributed to her support since 1911. and the last time -she had seen him—in September, 1911—he came to her for money. Her husband hud been in a mental hospital twice, and when there the authorities had asked her to pay for his maintenance. To the Judge: When we lived together 1 had a farm and did the work; he did nothing but drink and knock me about. His Honor: Did he do any work? Witness: Nothing but drink all the time. His Honor: Do you mean to say he was drunk the day after you were married ? Witness: Oh. no; we were married IS

months before he started drinking, and after that he did nothing else. Evidence was given by Mrs. -Lambert, of Christchurch, with whom petitioner boarded after she left her husband. While Mrs. Brown was with witness, Brown twice came to see her; on ifeither occasion was he sober, and he came to borrow money. A decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, was granted.