A BROKEN HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 277, 22 November 1922, Page 8

A BROKEN HOME.

WIFE RUNS AWAY. BOARDER CAUSES UNHAPPINESS. In the Supreme Court this morning the jury awarded damages £250 in a divorce action brought by John Thomas Heaton Raymond, farmer and contractor, of Te , Puke, against Margaret May Raymond, and the co-respondent, Alexander Smith. Mr. Drumgool represented petitioner, and Mr. Hodge appeared for respondent in the matter of custody of the children. The claim was for £500. The facts disclosed were that the corespondent had been a boarder in the home of petitioner, and during his lesidence there three children had been born. In a letter, co-respondent admitted being the father of the three children. After petitioner had discovered their parenthood he went away and resided in a tent on the property. His Honor: I wonder what kind of men we are bringing up here. This man allows another man to take possession of his wife and house, and lives in a tent close at hand, without kicking the man out of the place. I do not understand it. /> Petitioner: I was going to kick him out. but my solicitor told mc to leave him there. His Honor: And you were able to restrain yourself and live side by side. Petitioner: Yes. His Honor: Well, you have marvellous powers of endurance. Continuing, petitioner said that on returning in April last, he found his wife had cleared out with Smith, making a clean sweep of the furniture, effects, tools, implements and fowls connected with the house. The parties were married at Palmerston Xorth in 1901, and lived happily at Tc Puke till about four or five years ago, when co-respondent came on the scene. Petitioner had objected to Smith entering the house as a boarder, but respondent said the money he paid —£1 pet week—would be useful in supplementing her housekeeping money. Petitioner suspected nothing till the last twelve months of Smith's residence. There were nine children born of the marriage, seven of whom were still living. A decree nisi was granted.