WIVES IN LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1927, Page 16

WIVES IN LEAGUE.

AGAINST THEIR HUSBANDS. left for short holiday. THEN REFUSED TO GO HOME. HUSBANDS SUED FOR BOARD. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") NAPIER, this day. The story of two wives who, it is alleged, work in co-operation against their husbands, was told in the Napier Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Ostler, when William John Swaysland (Mr. L. A. Rogers) petitioned for the restitution of conjugal rights with Elsie Laura Swaysland, draper, of Napier. Petitioner gave evidence that on August 6, 1925, mutual friends named Mr. and Mrs. Burton came to live with his wife and himself, who had always lived together in happiness. At the time when Mr. and Mrs. Burton arrived the latter was recovering from illness.

In Business in Hamilton. A short time later it was suggested that Mrs. Burton and Mrs. Swaysland should go on a short holiday together to Hamilton. They went, and that was the last petitioner saw of his wife. She never came back, and he learnt later that she had opened up a business in Hamilton. He wrote and asked her to return after she had been away about nine months, but could get no satisfaction. In January, 1926, he went to Hamilton to verify a telegram to the effect that his wife was in hospital and about to undergo an operation. She then promised to come back within two j months, which promise she had not kept. Bills for Wife's Purchases. After returning to Napier he received accounts from Auckland firms for goods for stocking the shop. Later he received an account from Mrs. Burton for Mrs. Swaysland's board. His wife then sued him for maintenance. Mr. Rogers here explained that, at the same time that petitioner received an account for his wife's board from Mrs. Burton, Mr Burton received a similar account for his wife from Mrs. Swaysland. The two wives had apparently worked in co-operation. Other Husband's Experience. Percy Burton, carrier, of Napier, said that his wife went off on the holiday with Mrs. Swaysland he had seen neither of them. He had recently been summoned by Mrs. Swaysland for alleged arrears in Mrs. Burton's board. Mr. Rogers offered to call further evidence, but this his Honor deemed unnecessary. He upheld Swaysland's petition, qjnd ordered that it be complied with within fourteen days of service.