SQUATTER IN DIVORCE CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1921, Page 5

SQUATTER IN DIVORCE CASE.

HIS WIFE’S AMAZING CHARGES. EVIDENCE OF MANY FLOGGINGS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Revived Oct 21, 7.20 p.m. Sydney, Oct. 21. Remarkable evidence was given in a case in which Mrs. Perrott, wife of an opulent squatter, is seeking a judicial se paration, on the ground of her husband’s alleged cruelty. Counsel for petitioner stated that respondent, claiming a scriptural warrant, had regularly, from soon after their marriage, after stripping petitioner, laid her across his knees and chastised her with a heavy leather strap. Respondent appeared to practice religious rights before administering the floggings. He similarly chastised two girls, who were wards living in the house. As the result of petitioner’s protests, respondent ceased flogging her, but continued flogging the wards, one of whom ran away to escape the chastisement. Petitioner constantly but ineffectually protested against the immodesty of stripping and the cruelty in flogging the girls, and finally left home. Petitioner gave evidence that floggings wSre administered to her four or five times weekly. She suffered other acts of cruelty, which the husband claimed were for his wife’s welfare. Perrett denies the charges of cruelty.