PARENTS DISAGREE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1922, Page 6

PARENTS DISAGREE.

WIFE SEEKS SEPARATION, CASE IN MAGISTRATE’S COURT. Persistent cruelty was alleged by Emma M. Hutchings (Mr. R. H. Quilliam), who sought an order for a separation from her husband, Frank W. Hutchings (Mr. C. H. Croker), at the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday. For complainant Mr. Quilliam said that the parties, who resided at Fitzroy, had not been long in New Zealand. Hutchings was a blacksmith’s assistant. The cause of the trouble between the parties seemed to be drink, and after indulging it was the habit of Hutchings to come home and knock things about. Last Saturday he came home particularly disagreeable. Complainant’s evidence was to the effect that she had been married five years and there were three children, one aged 2 years and twins aged 8 months. She married Hutchings while he was in the army, and then she did not not see him except when he was on leave. When he left and they lived together he started to knock her about. Examined uy Mr. Croker, she admitted that part of the trouble last Saturday arose through a letter which contained a photo of Hutchings’ sister. W’itness had said that if she had her photo taken like that Hutchings would have put her down as everything that was low. Further questioned, she admitted that there was nothing indecent about the photograph. Mr. Croker: It was your sister who told you that you were not properly treated. —Not until he threw a tomato in my face at the teatable. Was that over an argument about money?—No; it was about the number of people in England, and he said I was trying to make him out a liar. The defence was an absolute denial of the charges of drunkenness, or that Hutchings had been guilty of cruelty or roughness. The only admission which was n/ide by defendant was as to one occasion on which he had got drunk, this being the date of the Springbok match.

After evidence was called, it was agreed to adjourn the case for one month with a view to a settlement.