A HUSBAND'S CRUELTY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 117, 21 May 1925, Page 7

A HUSBAND'S CRUELTY

WIFE'S LIFE THREATENED

SUPREME COURT GRANTS JUDI-

CIAL SEPARATION.

{By TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 20th May.

An amazing story of a husband's cruelty towards his wife was told inthe Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Herdman to-day, when Ida Susan Jennings sought a decreo for judicial separation from Edgar William Jennings, described- as a land agent. Mr.- Newbury stated that the defence had been Withdrawn.

His Honour: -' Then it is an undofended case?"

Mr. Newbury: " Yes."

In evidence, petitioner said that she was married in St. Patrick's Cathedral in February, 1923, and there was one child of the marriage. The parties lived in Park road, Remuera. and Soslyb avenue. • Three months after marriage her husband became indifferent to her and used bad language. He was going to take her to England, but he told her that she was too ignorant and that people would laugh nt her. He allowed her no visitors in the house, and threat ened her life repeatedly, so that her health broke down and she -was in hospital for some time. Once he threatened her door with an axe, and another time threatened to kick her, so that she had to go to the servants' quarters for pro tection. Before her baby was born he took away her wedding ring. Finally, said petitioner, her husband drove her one night out of the house. Next day she went back to the house, but the butler refused her admittance, saying that it was Mr. Jennings's orders. Later she heard that her husband was ill, so she went to nurse him. Mediation followed, but soon afterwards her husband's bad conduct returned. She had to eat her meals in the nursery, and rooms in the house were locked against her. For some weeks her husband was on a drinking bout. When the baby was ill sha sent for a lady to examins it, but her husband refused to allow the woman to attend to the child. He once ordered her out in the middle of the night to get the baby's clothes off a line, and when she refused he used insulting language to her. One day her' husband attacked her whilo she had the baby in her arms. He caught hold of her left hand and bent it back, breaking one of the fingers. She broke away from him and screamed for help. She had lost 3 stone in weight since her marriage, and she was now frightened to go back to her husband. Corroborative evidence of respondent's treatment'was given bySergeant Brown, father of petitioner. Once when peti-' tioner offered to kiss her husband Jennings told her. to keep away or else he would kick her.

His Honour made an order for judicial separation, petitioner to have custody of the child.

Mr. Leary (for petitioner) said he understood up to the last moment that the case would be defended, and had come prepared with fifteen witnesses. His Honour ordered respondent to pay costs on. the highest scale. The question of permanent alimony v as reserved.