A WIFE DESERTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 283, 28 November 1911, Page 5

A WIFE DESERTER.

BROUGHT BACK FROM VICTORIA. AND SENT TO GAOL. Daniel George Saunders, a young married man, who was last week brought from Melbourne in custody, was charged at the Police Court this morning, that he left the Dominion without making adequate provision for the maintenance of his wife and three children. The story told by Emily Saunders was that she married accused in Parnell on New Year's Day, 1903, and 'that there were three children of the marriage, the eldest nine and the youngest five. They went to Matakohe and returned to Auckland, living at Kingsland. Her husband treated her so badly that she had to seek the protection of the Court. A summary separation had been granted in July, 1!U0, but set aside, and a deed of separation had been made in November, 1910, by which accused was to pay 30/ a week. Blie had since then received only £2, and had had to work to support herself, and to seek relief from the Charitable Aid Roard to help keep the children. The defence was that by the deed of separation it had been agreed that he was not to maintain the wife, but was to pay 30/ a week towards the support of the children, on condition that he had the privilege of seeing the children once a week. Tie went once to see the children, and was given such a hot reception that he did not go back. He also sent a registered letter with money to his wii'e. but it was returned through the dead 'letter office, and ho did not then know his wife's address. He had gone to Australia to see his people, and in consequence of being ill. He had no desire to escape his responsibilities, and was quite prepared to do what he could for the children. He denied that he drew nearly €6O from the hank prior to going to Australia, and that he had been living a life of amusement in Melbourne. After Rub-Inspector Ilendrey had commented on the frequency of such cases of abandonment of young children, his Worship stated that this was a bad case of desertion, and imposed a sentence of six months' hard labour.