A CRUEL HUSBAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 292, 8 December 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

A CRUEL HUSBAND.

DOCTOR'S NOVEL WIFE DESERTION

A rascally and extraordinary scheme for getting rid of one's wife and family was revealed at the Spelthorne Petty Sessio-us (England) on October 20. In IS9_! Mrs Mary Thompson Wallace, of Teddlngton, was married to Dr. Donald Wallace at Glasgow. They went to London, where Dr. Wallace had a practice bringing him in £800 a year, and three children were born. Last autumn the doctor told his wife that ho 'had decided to relinquish his practice for the sake of his health. He asked her to go to Mombasa, East Africa. He told her It would be necessary for him to remain behind for a month in order to attend to matters connected with his Lo-ndou practice, hut promised to follow -her. She went. Instead of a joyful reunion a month later she leceived a cruel letter from her husband, lie told her plainly that he never had any intention of following her, but simply wished to get rid of her and the children. He also asked her to remain in Bust Africa and earn a living by painting. With rare pluck, Mrs Wallace returned to England by the same steamer that took tier to Zanzibar, ami set about bringing jj er faithless husband to task. She found he was living at Gorlhead, Argyllshire. For a time she received small sums of money from him, but these contributions censed altogether. Dr. Wallace, who was stated to be in receipt ol" at least £300 a year,- did not attend the court, but sent a letter instead. The t-ha'rniau of lhe bench said "Justice could not accept it as evidence." lie, moreover, made an order for him to pay £2 per week towards the support of his wife aud family.