SCENE IN COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 248, 2 August 1932, Page 3

SCENE IN COURT.

EX-UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IN CUSTODY FOR CONTEMPT. iPer Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 1. Shouting at the top of Ins voice, abusing his wife and her solicitor in strong terms, and gesticulating wildly, David James Richards, a-former University professor, was led out of the Magistrate's Court this morning in custody for contempt of Court. Richards and his wife have appeared in the courts a number of times over matrimonial affairs and recently sopaiation and maintenance, orders made in favour of the wife were the subject of a judgment by Mr Justice Ostlei Last Monday Richards was charged with being in arrears on flie orders made lor the support of his wife and child and after heaving tho evidence Mr Woodward, S.M., adjourned the case until to-day to allow defendant to produce a certain statement dealing with ins financial position. When the case was called to-tiaj, Richards immediately began allegations about his wife and he was warned several times by the Magistrate. The warning quietened defendant temporarily, but he repeatedly interrupted. 1 At length the Magistrate told the Court orderly to take Richards in charge for contemnt of Court and take him outside. , When Richards was brought back to Court this afternoon he apologised to the Magistrate for his behaviour and again went into the witness-box. _ After bearing him further the Magistrate sentenced him to one month's imprisonment, tho warrant to be suspended if he pays £4O pus current maintenance forthwith, and £oo within the month of August.