AFTER 27 YEARS MARRIED

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 194, 14 August 1920, Page 12

AFTER 27 YEARS MARRIED

WIFE ALLEGES CRUELTY. Decision wns given this morning l>7 Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., in a maintenance ease which occupied the greater part of yesterday afternoon at tjhe Magistrate's Court. William John Miller (Mr. R. Matthews) appeared to oppose the application of his wife for separation and maintenance. The evidence ,\vos of a very contradictory nature. Margaret "Maud Miller said she and defendant, had been married 27 years. There were four yottnjl children. " Her husband ordered liei; out of,her homo on -lune 20. Drink w.'s her husband's trouble, but he treated her as bud when he was sober. He was a wharf labourer. She hud never had her husband's wages since they were married, had to jro out washing am i cleaning lo keep tjie family. His language was bad. drunk or sober. The husband denied his wife's allcpntioiw, and said she (had left the home iin various occasions. Mrs. Miller: I don't, know where you ircf. to mi Saturday nights, Willie. Defendant said he never drank more than three -hisses a week. His wife had frequently said she wanted to };et away, as Hidcpitllciul was too quiet. She liked tfoinfr out to work. She was not compelled to do r-o. hi answer to Mr. MiiUihews, defendant said: 'T did j;ive her a smack on the head about JO years njro." lie volunteered the statement the* his average earning* were about CJ per Week, whereupon Mr. Matthews remarked it was time W Rot n job where he could make more money to keep his wife, mi that she need not fro out to work. Kvidence was ftiven by Michael Kintr. wharf labourer, that hp had known defendant for years, and never seen liiin drunic. His Worship said he was of opinion that ti?io husband did orcnsioually tiiko some li<|iior. and bad interests outside the home, and had pot into n bad habit of treating bis wife badly n treatment that did amount to persistent cruelty. In makinpr an order the magistrate said lie would do so chiefly by way of a •warning to t,h c liuubnnd. and in the hope that mutters would short.lv lie arranged sntisfaiiorily between the parties, and that they would come together asrnin. An order for semratinn »•«« •im.le. the wife whs given tlip jruardianslilp of two c' <lren and the l,n->>.i n' «..-. ordered (o pay £2 per week towards tilie main tenance of his family.