RIVAL CLAIMANTS TO A HUSBAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 138, 11 June 1909, Page 2

RIVAL CLAIMANTS TO A HUSBAND.

A remarkable matrimonial tangle was before the Brighton Bench on June 4. Two respectable-looking middleaged women, who both claimed to be the wife of a person named Davis, a hammerman in a foundry, had differed in the street about their marital affairs, and, it was alleged, had used their umbrellas during the scrimmage, -with the result that one was broken in half by Mrs Davis (from 1877 to 1907), now residing apart from Tier husband, at South Melbourne, over the head and. body of Mrs Davis (January, 1908, to June, 1909), now living with her husband at Brighton. In consequence, the last-mentioned Mrs Davis summoned the other for assault, and misnamed her, so it was contended, in the summons "Christina Marie McConochie," Mr Ridgway, who appeared for defendant, declared that his client had been purposely insulted _by being styled "McConochie." He declined to allow her to answer to that name, but as Christina Marie Davis, he said, she pleaded not guilty. Mr Hayball, who represented the prosecutrix, said he was responsible for the force of the summons. Defendant was called McOonochie as a matter of fact, and for the sake of correctness. She had married a man named McConochie in 1871, and in 1877 went through the form of marriage with Davis. McConochie, however, was not dead. Mr Ridgway denied the latter assertion. .Mr Hayball said he did not think he need enter into the merits of the matrimonial complication, as this was a case of assault. Mr Ridgway: "Defendant had been married over 20 years, and had nine children to Davis, when your woman took our husband." (A laugh.)Later Mr Ridgway produced a family photograph showing the man Davis and defendant with their nine children. Defendant was fined 5/ and £1-1/ costs.