THOROUGHLY HENPECKED

Evening Star, Issue 12606, 11 September 1905, Page 5

THOROUGHLY HENPECKED

In tho Divorce Court at Melbourne, on August 22, before Mr Justice A'Beckett, William Edward Davies, forty-three years of age, bootmaker, petitioned for a dissolution of his marriage with Annie Elizabeth Davies, forty years of age, on the grounds of constructive desertion. The evidence of the petitioner showed that the parties were married in 1885, and two children were born of the marriage. They bad lived together during tho greater part of their married life, but for upwards of three years respondent had refused to continue tho relations of man and wife. He said: " She neglected her home, and threatened me with injury. She treated me with great cruelty, throwing things at m« and striking me. At Bendigo I had hemorrhage of the lungs, and a doctor told me I should stay in bed, but my wife said if I did so she would leave the window open. Her father was staring with us at Bendigo, and remonstrated with her for her conduct. She threw a cup of tea at him, and smashed the cup on his face. The doctor said she was suffering from delusions with a homicidal tendency, and was not fit to be at large. In 1902 we parted under a deed of separation, but subsequently she camo to me crying. She said: ' There is a. plot to murder me, and you are at thtf bottom of it. I have como to seek your protection, and if anything happens to me my blood will be on your head. If you will only take mo back I will bo a good wife and behave myself.' We stall live in the same housej but she will not allow me to have my meals there. When I como home at night I find even the bread and butter locked in my wife's room. I pay the bills, and my wifemakes me bring everything into the house." Mr Justice A'Beckett raid this form of desertion was a peculiar one, but one which the Court bad recognised. It had, however, to be satisfied by the evidence of such a refusal on the part of the wife, and having regard to its character it must necessarily rest to a great extent on the evidence of petitioner. He believed the petitioner's evidence. A decree nisi was granted.