MAINTENANCE CASES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 100, 26 April 1912, Page 2

MAINTENANCE CASES.

iVIAKKIED AT SEVENTEEN. I Several instances of ill-niated couple 3 came before Air. C, C. Kettle at the S.-\L Court. A man named Walter Xeill did not " ! appear to answer his wife's application j E ; for maintenance and separation, on the, ' j ground of persistent cruelty. I " J Mr. R. Singer appeared for the com- j '! plain.an , .. 1I " Mrs. Xeill Stated she had been mar- - 1; rifd 10 rears. ! '•', Mr. Kettle, in a. surprised voice: Nine- " i teen year?! Why, how old were you? ■j Defendant: I was not very old. 1, " ' was married at 17. end mv husbanu was ! 1 ; 24. ' i ■ ! During the last &ix weeks her hus"!band hid only given her 24/ towards " the maintenance of herself r.r<A three ' j children. Her husband had i:_'.i Ur.uki ing for the last 15 years. I ' i His Worship made an order for 25/ " ; per wee;:. \ ' ' TOO LATE TO REFORM. . : Robert John iloyle was charged wit") , being guilty 61' habitual drunkenness r and persi-stent crueiiy. His wife therefore applied for a separation order. 1 maintenance, and guardianship of the • children. Moyle pleaded ■'not guilty." Mrs. Movie stated that her husband . struck her six months ago, and last . , Friday "'lired a saucer" at her. j ; ; Mr. Kettle: Suppose he reforms! ' . ■ Mrs. Movie: I will not live with him , again. , iir. Kettle: 2Cot ii he gives up drink i -anti-treats-you properly? ; Mrs. Moyle: I will not have him . ajrs in. Air. Kettle: You want to get rid of "him? Mrs. Movie: Yes: I have had quite enough of him. The defendant said he had never neglected his home through drink. He threw the saucer on the Poor because it was diriy. He denied that lie had been guilty of persistent cruelty. He . admitted he had been drunk at times, but was not an habitual drunkard. He . earned £3 per week in the summer liiLe. He had six children. He calculated that his average expenditure en drink was 5/ per week. By Mr. Kettle: He had nothing to : say against his wife, only that she was inclined to lean towards the drink. He added: "I am afraid it will run away with her."' Mr. Kettle said there *-aa uo doubt the man's conduct towards his wife Ind been abominable, and drink was at the bottom of the whole trouble. Defendant said he was sorry. His Worship made an order for 30' ; ••T week, and granted a separation. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER. i Robert McXscmara was charged with I having failed to provide maintenance of I a child. Mr. Hall SkeKon appeared for ; I the grandmother. Defendant admitted ' I the paternity and said he had paid 6/ , ' per week. He wanted to marry the ! mother of the child, and she wished to ' ; marry him. but her parents declined to i permit it. ! The grandmother said her husband and j herself would not consent to the mar- ] riage, and the girl was under 21 years !of a cc. I Mr. KetUe: "If you were allowed to marry her, have you anywhere to take her?" The defendant said he would take her to a room for which he was paying 5/ per week. The Grandmother: "She is going to | live with mc till she is 21 years of age, i your Worship. I will take care of tne I chilri." ] The mother of the child said she would j rather it was put in a home than left j with her mother. Mr. Kettle: "Will you promise to leave the child with your motaer for the present?" The mother replied she ■would rather it v.-as placed in Miss Jackson's home. ■ I Mr. Kettle nnaly made an order for i | 7/6 per week maintenance, and told the ! 1 grandmother to take charge of the baby j for the present. SIX MONTHS MARRIED. William Wells pleaded not guilty to ' his wife's, charge that he was habitually i inebriate. A request for separation and j maintenance was also made. Tin wife - ■ said that she was married six months ago .at St. Patrick's Church. Drink was the ' trouble in the home. 1 The husband admitied that he had . given his wife a couple of slaps across the face. He added: "All she wants is ■ momrv." I Mr. Kettle made a separation orfleT, •and \v ; th mainteaance at the rate of 10/ j per week. i --Win. Alexander Johnston wa.3 called ■ I ■upon to show cause why he had failed to ] I comply with an order for the maiaten- ] ! ance of his child. i Defendant said the £5 10/ was ready, j but he wanted to ba sure that the boy ! was kept at school. He said they were ; i married, and had separated. I ; Mr. Kettle said unless the arrears ] were paid into Court the defending ■would run a risk of beine sent to eaol. He would be convicted of failing to obey ; the order, and must pay the amount forthwith. i _ ,