"ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF HIM"

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 8

"ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF HIM"

Wife's Story of Husband and Nurse . In Seatoun Park Is Denied ;. BROUGHT UKULELE AND HER MUSIC •(From ''N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) When Richard Gadd developed pneumonia his wife Annie Charlotte brought Nurse Gibbard into the house to nurse him for one week, and she now alleges that this resulted m the breaking up of her home. v , ~

Applying to Mr. T. B. McNeil, S.M., for separation and maintenance, the wife declared that because of what she saw when she allegedly followed her husband and Nurse Gibbard into Seatoun Park one night, she separated from Gadd. Denying the allegations, the husband attributes his wife's statements to her "Neurotic temperament."

BECAUSE of the alleged park incident, Mrs. - Gadd entered into a

deed 6f sepai-ation with her husband, which set out that Gadd was to have custody of the two eldest children, a boy- aged 17 and a girl aged 13, and Mrs. Gadd was to have cus-tody-of the third child, a girl aged nine.

The husband was to pay 10/- a week fpr the maintenance of his wife and also 10/-. a week towards the maintenance of the youngest child. The wife was to live* m the > house, rent free.

In giving evidence Mrs. Gadd, who was represented' by Mr. Shorland, mentioned the agreement' she and her husband had arrived at. She said that, for the sake of the children, she did not want the home broken up, so suggested that Gadd live m a tent on the land on which their house was situated. He was to have his meals m the house. v ■ ■

Gadd agreed to this, but later wished to live m the house. She re-

ceived a letter from his solicitors notifying her of this, and informing her that her husband was entitled to live with her. Gadd went into the house, and Mrs. Gadd left, taking her two daughters with her. Gadd went to the flat and bx*ought away the eldest girl.' Mrs. Gadd said that she had heen m employment and was earning £1 a week, but was not m a position at that time. She had a small sum m the bank, but had drawn the whole of it with the exception of £1. When she) wrote- to Gadd and asked him to increase the maintenance he ■ was paying her and the youngest child by 10/-,. thus bringing the total sum he paid them up to 30/-, he refused to do so Y In -reply to Mr. Shorland, she said that the trouble between her husband and herself was due entirely to her husband's relations with a third party. Mr. P. J. O'Regan (for Gadd): Who was the third party? • Mrs. Gadd: Need I answer that? Mr. Shorland told her to answer all the questions she was asked. . "She was a nurse employed at our home for a week, to , nurse my husband through pneumonia," Mrs. Gadd explained. "His conduct with her was not what it should have been." "ARM AROUND HER" Mr. O'Regan: Would it justify divorce? — I consider it would. Mrs. Gadd said that on October 17 the nurse called at the house, but witness had to go out. "On my return after nine o'clock," said ■ the wife, "I saw my husband taking her 'home. He had his arm around her. I followed them and saw them ' go .-: into Seatoun Park, and it was what I saw there that was the result of the separation." Mr. O'Regan: Was his behavior improper? — Yes, it -was. Why did you follow him? — I know 4iis conduct when he is with women. The Magistrate: How long were they at the park? — I .^ stayed only long enough to see what would be attempted. I went home, but returned after 11 o'clock and met him coming home. Mr. O'Regan: You lived with him for 20 years, and on this you decided to leave him? — I have always been suspicious of him. • And this is. an excuse to leave him? — It is not. ; I put it to you that you are simply tired of him ? — No. I have , lived with him for twenty years. Did you accuse your . husband of wrongdoing? — Yes. "V^hat. did he say? — It is only what any .man would do if he got the chance: , What did you say when you accused him? — I told him that I had seen him m the park with Nurse Gibbard. Did he admit it? — He did not admit it, but he did not deny it. Why didn't you wait at the Park to see what did occur?— When I saw them there -it gave me such a horrible feeling. I was stunned. You suspected misconduct? — From their actions I knew- that there would be. ... NOT BAD FATHER Have you previously had cause for complaint regarding your husband? — I have. I had occasion some years ago to tax him ' on. attempted misconduct. Did he admit it? — He admitted that he had attempted it. Has he been a good father? — NO. He is known throughout New Zealand as a most revolutionary Communist, and the , children have not been allowed any religious or patriotic teaching. The boy will have vivid recollections . of his father having served 12 months' imprisonment. Mrs. Gadd admitted that m other respects her husband was not a~~ba.d father. . . In reply to further questions by Mr. O'Leary, she said that she was secretary of the Kennell Club. Last year she received an honorarium of £40 for her services, and she hoped to receive the same this year. She had already drawn £25 of this year's honorarium m advance. Her husband was also interested m the Kennell Club, and at one time was on the executive. Mr. O'Leary: You are a. typiste, aren't you? — I can type, but I couldn't earn my living at it.

Weren't you secretary of the Women's '"International? — Yes, but that was several' years ago. i , One of the objects of that body is the prevention of war? — Yes. v

Were you ever a member of the communist party? — No. My husband was secretary, and there was banned literature j<n the house. ' You'll admit now that your husband is not a communist? — I don't know. If he is not it is because" it is not revolutionary enough for him. He is considered to be one of the ablest communists m New Zealand. He preaches communism at work. "SHE IS NEUROTIC" I -think that you are a University woman? — No, I was married when I was sixteen. Reverting to the matter of Gadd's alleged improper conduct with Nurse Gibbard, Mrs. Gadd said that the 1 woman lived near Seatoun Park. j When she met her husband on the way home after seeing him with Nurse Gibbard, he wanted to know where she was going, and she told him that she was going to fetch him home. "I told h:m that considering that it was after nine o'clock wlien he left the house it was time he was home, as it was then after 11," she said. Mrs;' Gadd added that she did not see much of Nurse Gibbard when she was attending her husbanjd, as she was the night nurse. "She seemed to be a bright, lively sort of girl," declared the wife. f'Shei had no friends, and my husband suggested that we invite her around to our house." v Richard Gadd's story was that his wife was of, a hysterical disposition, and that he had explained that.to her Counsel, Mr. Shor- . land, when the deed of separation was being prepared. '"I said to Mr. Shorland, 'No doubt you have noticed that she is neurotic," said Gadd, "and Mr. Shorland told me to sign the agreement as she would probably go back to me later. "My wife said that I had been flirting with Nurse Gibbard. At no time have I flirted with her or misconducted myself with her or with any other woman." Gadd denied that he had been m Seatoun Park with Nurse Gibbard on October 17. He said the nurse had called -at the house before tea on that evening, and his wife went to look at the dogs m a show. MISCONDUCT DENIED , It would be after 9.30 when lpe w«nt part of the way home with Nurse Gibbard, and arrived back* at his own house at about 10 o'clock. '"' Mr. O'Regan: Did you go into the park?— No. deny any improper, conduct with the nurse? — I do, and besides that I deny any misconduct with any girl. By signing the agreement you thought that you were humoring her? — Yes. My wife had peculiar nervous reactions, and I thought that she would overcome them. I Mr. O'Regan remarked on Gadd's interest m communism, but the Magistrate said that he did not want to know anything about his political views. . "My little child is going to Sunday school now, and has been going for some months," said Gadd. "It's all lies." Gadd said that his wife was a good dressmaker and organiser, and was also a' good typiste. She had done all the typing for a communist conference .some years ago. "But I want that brought up," he said/ "there is no need for it." He wanted to live with his wife and would if she would give up "this dog business." Mr. Shorland: You'll . admit to a trivial flirtation ' with Nurse Gibbard? — No. I'll not admit that. Did you ever kiss her? — No. .•.. You just had musical evenings with her? — That's all. Did you have many of these evenings? — My wife invited her twice. I should say that she was there two or three times. She came one afternoon just when I "was getting about. She came at my wife's suggestion and brought her ukulele and music with her at her request. You play some instrument? — I play the piano. Your wife does not play or sing, so why should she have invited the Nurse Gibbard to the' house?— She' likes music. Pe-pxamined by Mr. O'Regan, Gadd said that he w r as a City Council, employee, and earned roughly £5 a w r eck. His son gave him 30/- a week, but this was not sufficient to keep the boy. He also had to keep the eldest girl. The Magistrate reserved his decision,