A DIVORCE ACTION PENDING

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 6

A DIVORCE ACTION PENDING

WIFE GETS JIT EIRST BLOW SECURES MAINTENANCE FF.CM HER PETITIONING TM/.FE HUSBAND Tells How She Came Home To A Locked House, Hubby (Key In Pocket) Looking On (From "Truth's" Wanganui Uepj Taihape promises. to contribute to the May oiv<w<js Cet/rt sessions. The petitioning husband was defendant fo « mMinUn*nce case brought at Wanganui, which the wife won, PsH ci ihe tale of domestic infelicity was told.

The dainty little Mrs. Imelda Goodall, 'wife of Charles Goodall, painter, of Taihape, whispered into the ear of Lawyer Jim Hussey that ail was not well at home with her, and that she wanted some maintenance out of hubby. Jim replied "All right; just leave it to, me." When Magistrate Watson paid his monthly visit to Wanganui to deal with the agony . cases, Imelda told a story that had some peculiar features, and left the old gentleman at the back of the Court somewhat m doubt. She stated that m December last she and Charlie were not on speaking terms, 1 and that one Duncan, of Taihape, was the man who acted as; agent, for both parties, a sort of messengerboy. Imelda Was told that, she was required to go for a six weeks' holiday. She first mapped out Auckland as a desirable place, but eventually^ decided to visit her people at Wanganui. When she had her kit-bag packed, Duncan trotted along with four quidlets. Imelda thought this was a miserable allowance and told Duncan so, so the amount was supplemented by a further two bank notes and oft! .she went tg Wanganui. DRAMATIC ARRIVAL OF DIVORCE PAPERS, y A few days later she received another three pounds from hubby, and almost immediately on top of this she was served with divorce papers. This fairly took Imelda's breath away, as she understood that at the end of six weeks she was to return to her home at Taihape. Feeling rather disconsolate, she packed UP once more and went back to Taihape, and to her surprise, on arrival at home, she found no Charlie there with outstretched arms to greet her. All the doors and windows were locked. She called up Duncan, who sent a taxi for her to convey her to the home of a relative. She remained there till January 16 and then. hit out for Wanganui, once more. Since then Charlie had sent her six payments of 30/- each, and now she asked for more. WAS THE WIFE ON A WAGE? In substantiation of. the argument for an increased allowance^ ■"" she told Magistrate Watson that for two years she had' looked after Charlie's paint shop while he went out and arranged contracts and raked m the dollars, and for this she "was on the pay roll for £1 per week; Charlie had during the period weighed ln some £25 short, but all the same he expected Imelda to keep herself m clothes. She oived some money, but Charlie said it would be all right, and he would foot the bill, as there Were some articles included m the account for household purposes. Lawyer Jack tried to shatter Imelda's arguments, but with little success. She admitted that once Charlie gave her a fiver when he won a double. She had also been very lucky In having a half ticket on Cold Steel when he won the Cup at Wanganui. She also stated

that she went to M&ti&tt &n& Palmerston races, but did not tell Mr. Watson whether she backed tuny winners at those meetings. Imelda also showed that ghe had a smattering knowledge of Charlie's finnnces, and .stated that he had a •house at Newmarket, and he and a builder owned 11 sections at Taihape, out of which they expected to make a pot of money. , DENIED OFFERING TO QUIT FOR A "THOU." She denied that she told Charlie that she would leave him any time if he ■ gave her a modest thousand. He :;• wanted .fo separate "and to get rid of •■ the dainty Imelda.' He offered, Tier £2 '>; jjer week. She-' said* '.'no" on the spot, i but if he sold out^his lucrative business she would consider accepting 'a lump sum. Laws'er Jack then entered oh ' the matter of wardrobe, and linelda soon stifled the cross-examination in'ithat direction by stating that she always ; had a good supply of "clobber/* but she took good care of them, and they were not expensive and lasted for years. Charlie was then put into the box, and he told the Court that Imelda wanted a tenner for her holiday, but he considered six~was .enough, and ho placed It/ on her . dressing table and Imelda picked the notes up quite- quickly and said "au revoir" to her Taihape friends for a time. He denied that he had agreed to give her a weekly wage. He agreed to pay her debts, but gave hei* to understand that as a prosperous business njan, he objected to his little wifie working for wages. DEFENDANT QUESTIONED BY S.M. Before Jim Hussey got a turn at cross-examination, the Magistrate ask- • ed a few pointed questions and received an admission from Charlie that on the night of his wife's return to Taihape he saw her get .off the train, and he had the key of "the home m his pocket and did not even take steps to acquaint hen' of the fact. The Magistrate wanted to know what he expected Imelda to do, and Charlie replied that she had relatives m Taihape to go to. Jim Hussey then took a turn at tying Charlie into knots and undoing him again, and by the timo he had finished he showed the noble Charles to be a man of substance, and that Taihape , was not a bad town at all to make money m. Charlie now and again tried to counter by making references to the matter of overhead expenses and merchants" debts. Jim was not having any bluff and was out to do his very best for Imelda, and he succeeded m the end m placing Charlie on a very sound financial foundation. Magistrate Watson had then no difficulty m assessing the maintenance at £2 10s per week, and ordering Charlie to pay all costs. Jim also announced that, the divorce petition would be heard -in May and that Imelda would bo there to defend.