FAMILY FEUD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 300, 19 December 1934, Page 8

FAMILY FEUD.

AGED MAN SUED.

COSTLY GIFTS TO PUBLIC.

DESTITUTE.

(By Telegraph.—rress Association.) CHRISTCIIURCH, this day. A well-known Christchurch resident, Richard Edward Green, was the defendant in maintenance proceedings this morning. Green, who is B.'l years of age, recently gave to the boroughs of Sumner and Brighton clock towers, each costing £800.

The complainants in the case were a daughter, Everil Isola Jenkins, and a granddaughter, Rhoda Florence Glenday. Both asked that Green should contribute tr> their support, as both were destitute. It was also submitted that two of defendant's sons, in Sydney, were destitute.

Counsel for tlie women, Mr. Tracy, said thev were hopelessly destitute. "It appears that there has been a perpetual feud in the family, which is of considerable size," he said. "From the time the children have become wage-earners fireen has refused to help them. "They were prepared to struggle along, but (iroon lias recently expressed determination to strip himself of all his assets and buy annuities for himself and his wife, leaving nothing to his family to participate in later."

Counsel said Green's first attempt was to live to the city a statue of one of the founders of the'province, but the City Council wisely said that his first duty was to provide for his destitute relatives. He then expressed determination to put the statue in his back yard, if he could not do it otherwise. The amount represented in his gifts of clocks was substantial, and his relatives thought it was time they did something on their own behalf. They contended it was wrong for Green to spend his money in "a welter of self-advertise-ment" while his relatives were dependent on relief.

Mrs. Jenkins said she was the wife of a relief worker. Eleven years apro her father told her that not ono of the family would get any of his money. He said lie would rather burn it or give it away. Cross-examined, witness said she had not spoken to her father for eleven years. Her father had assisted her to purchase a house, but the money had been paid back.

Counsel for the defence said Green was a, very old citizen. His father came out with Mr. Fitzgerald, superintedent of the province, and it had been understood that after his (defendant's) obligations were met some memorial would he erected to Fitzgerald. Defendant endeavoured to do so. He had not known of the position of his family, nor was he told. He had now, however, committed himself to make gifts. (Proceeding.)