CALLED TO ORDER

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 125, 29 May 1934, Page 9

CALLED TO ORDER

> RICHARDS IN COURT

MAINTENANCE DISPUTE

Armed-with a sheaf of papers to demonstrate his involved financial position, David James Richards, former university professor, appeared again in the Magistrate's Court today, charged with being in art-ears of maintenance in respect of his wife and child. After an hour's hearing, during which Richards had- to be called to order sevpral times, Mr. W. F. Stilwell,' S.M., adjourned the.proceedings for a week, in order that t JJighards might .produce further statements on his -financial-position.l'An application on1 his, part'"for 'a variation of tho maintenance orders and remission of arrears will bo heard.-on that date also. it

Formal evidence was given by a Gdurt clerk that Richards awed £8 in maintenance for his Child and £32 for1 his wife on >lay 21.

"My defence is that I "haven't'had the money to pay,'%said Richaids,': He produced a lengthy financial statement that had been prepared by an accountant.

- Mr. G. G. G. Watson, who appeared for the wife,, said that Richards had paid the 'amount involved in the last warrant when it was issued, to avoid having to go to gaol, and he had not paid one penny since. r Richards replied that during the last 31 weeks he had had only £47 15s 8d to live on. A firm of Wellington solicitors had put a property in which he was interested up for auction without telling him, because h,c owed -£2 10s on it. ' To savo that property ho -had had to'pay £115, and the solicitors had demanded £30 in costs anft.refused to .give a statement of the details.

"Call them solicitors! 'I call them sharks," said Richards'excitedly, turning to the Press table and naming the firm.

Mr. Stilwell: It's no use 'trying to imagine you're talking from a soapbox. > " ,

Richards: I'm talking ito Jbe 1 public. "Sixty pounds for typing. Put it in tho .Press," cried Richards a little later, referring to a previous .dispute between him and another firm of solicitors. "Look at the persecution I've had."

Mr. Stilivell: You're not. going to make an ass of yourself here. " • The defendant went 0n,.t0 say that the litigation over his maintenance had cost hyn £720. "Dirty wolves," he muttered. ' ' ,

"Disgraceful "was his description of a letter which ho said his wife had written to him five days before she commenced litigation. Ho proceeded to read tho letter, but was sharply rebuked by the Magistrate.

Mr. Watson began to cross-examijie on tho moneys held on Richards's behalf by various firms of solicitors. VRavening wolves," was how Richards replied to one question.. .

On Mr. Watson's pressing a certain question Richards addressed him as '.'old man.'' ' ,

Mr. Watson: Don't call mo "old man."

-Richards: Well, it's good enough for you when you ask a man a thing ten times. You must be getting old. "I know what I'm'talking about," continued Richards. "I'm not a liar. I've been treated as a liar, for four years. It's a disgrace to this^town and to this country. It's, a rotten shame. That's what it is. I've had £47 to live on for 31 weeks." .

Mr. Watson continued his cross-exam-ination, and was told by Richards, heatedly, that he was "an utter fool."

"Well, I can't help it," said Rich ards, when tho Magistrate again re buked him.

Mr. Watson This man is not .as mad as he makes out.* These insults are delibel ate, and aie a" try-on.

Mr. Stihvell: I'm not going to tolerate them.

Richards: IJm being baited. The Magistrate told Richards that ho. was not being baited, and that ho would have to keep a hold on himself.

"I'm eorry,"',said Richards, and the hearing proceeded quietly to the end.

Cyril Farquhar Chapman; aged 33, a clerk, was ..further; remanded .until June 6 when he appeared before Mr. E.Page, :S.M., in the. Magistrate^ • Court today on. a charge, of negligently driving . a car, thereby, causiag vbodily. injuryvto •E."E. Bu'nis."