VINCENT SMACKED HER

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 9

VINCENT SMACKED HER

WIFE'S TEMPER WAS SCOTCH MRS. HAMMICK SAYS HUSBAND SWUNG HER INTO SEPARATION HE BLAMES MA-IN-LAW FOR TROUBLE ' (From "ft'.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.; Admitting that she had a Scotch temper, Marion Robertson Hammick nevertheless declared that her husband, Vincent John Hammick, was the cause of the marital unhappiness between them. Applying 'for a separation and maintenance from him she alleged that on one occasion an unloving- smack from Vincent had broken her false teeth.

Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., after hearing- the husband's denials of the allegations, refused to make an order.

MARION asserted that after her baby's arrival her husband changed completely. Married three years ago, the first twelve months, she said, were happy ones for them both. On His part, Vincent declared that his mother-in-law was the cause of a great deal of the trouble. / , » Mr. R. E. Matthews represented the husband and Mr. A. J. Moody appeared for the -wife. Marion told the court that she and her husband had separated four weeks ago, and that since that time she had received no money from him. She declared that Vincent .became unkind after the baby arrived and would not eat the food she set before him. ' Moreover, her husband came home late and on one occasion smacked her face and broke her false teeth. However, m spite of their occasional quarrels, an endeavor was made to forget and forgive until the culminating point arrived, when forbearance \Vg.s. m her opinion, no longer possible. Mr. Matthews m hi« r — oss-exami-nation of the wife, was informed that Hammick was a musician. Her husband's late home-comings were not of an extraordinary nature, that is, that he was not anywhere else than where he was supposed to be. Mr. Matthews: When the music business failed owingT to the advent . of the talkies, your husband started a bootmaking business? — He had that business when I married him. You know your husband is devoted to you, your baby and the home? — Not to me. I was very fond of him once, but I am not now. Marion stated she had known her husband five or six weeks before^ she married hifn. She denied- that her mother "and father had at the time driven her out of the home. Mr. Matthews: Did y our mother strike you, even though you were 22 or 23 years of age? — That's not because of this; I love my mother. Well, ' I put it to you that all this present trouble is because of your mother? — No. Again, Mrs. Hammick, I put it to you that your temper is" not all that it might be? — Well, I admit I have a bit Of a Scotch tern Per, but it's not that bad. Well, to get down to tin tacks, he is not. a bad sort of a chap, is he?— I would not have left him if I 'thought so. . Hammick said he was a professional musician, but that owing to the depression caused by the talkies he had I engaged m a bootmaking business. He admitted his wife had left him a

month ago, but denied her allegations of cruelty. He also agreed that there were arguments over the baby because, he . alleged, his wife was too fond of smacking it. "I told my wife;" he said, "that if any smacking was to be done, I was the one to do it." When he was asked about striking his wife on the face, Hammick admitted that he had done so. He declared that his wife was of a nagging disposition. Concerning the allegations of late home-coming, the husband said that as times were bad he used to work back late to earn more money. However, these late nights were infrequent. He denied drinking m hotels. When he came home late he always told his wife the reason, but was disbelieved. When counsel reminded him that he was accused by Mrs. Hammick of having a temper, he replied that as far as he could judge,- it was the case of a kettle calling the pot black. Mr. Matthews: Did your wife ever attack you?-+She has denied threatening me with a knife, but it's true she did. My wife got wild because I would not eat all my food, but I have a small appetite. What about your mother-in-law? About three years ago your wife's mother turned her out, and then you married? — We got married sooner than we should have. At this stage -m the proceedings the husband alleged that he did not consider that his wife took him to court on her own initiative. He declared it was due to her mother's influence. Hammick added that sometimes when he arrived home he used to i find his wife m tears, whereupon he used to remark, "What's the matter, dear?" His w'fe' would then tell him that her mother was at the house, ag^in £>nd had assaulted her. Mr, Moody: Is it a fact you knocked your wife on the face and broke two of h£r false teeth?—^No. Well, how were the teeth broken?— We had an argument and I struck her oil' the face and her teeth fell out. Is it true then that you both have had arguments? — Yes. but her stories of ray striking her are exaggerated. , You admit you have a bad temper? — No, I do not; but it's npt exactly an even temper. You gave your wife no money so as to starve 'her into submission? — No. Further evidence elicited the statement from Hammick that he was totally unaware of the reasons why his wife left him. The day they penarated there was no argument or dispute. ' * • I

! Hammick added that he was not antagonistic to his wife at all and, as a matter of fact, had gone to her at the last minute to seek a way out of all difficulties for a triple reason, namely, for the sake of his child, its mother and himself. , M'-. MeTOan. S.M., delivered sonic fatherly advice. He said that apparently both the husband and wife possessed tempers and if they wanted happiness m life it was necessary for them to control themselves^ On the evidence before him he would not grant a separation. He concluded by reminding the wife that she should recognise the faults on her own side, and that she should, for the sake of the child, which her husband loved, re* j turn and commence life anew.