"BOSS OF THE HOUSE"

Evening Star, Issue 18280, 21 May 1923, Page 8

"BOSS OF THE HOUSE"

THE OLD DIFFERENCE CAUSES TROUBLE.

Tho old difference regarding “ Who’s to bo boss in the house” came along early in the case of Philip Boeder and his wife, who were married twenty two years ago, and have been separated on various occasions ever since. Reeder, who was proceeded against in the Police Court this morning on a complaint for maintenance, separation, and guardianship orders, told tho Bench that the operation of tying tho marriage knot resulted instantly in ‘Hurtling an angel into a devil.” His wife, on the other hand, strongly contended that tho fault was all on the' side of her husband, who had been ‘‘spoiled” by his mother and expected to have his own way to the same extent when he married. He was addicted to drink, she added, and a dirtv man when under the influence.

Alt Hanlon (for defendant) : Didn’t you sell the bod -from under hip?—l mi edit have got rid of it, because it was too dirty to keep. But did you?—l burned it, as I didn’t want disease in the house. Complainant added that defendant left her on the last occasion some years ago, saying “The place was too clean for him.”

Mr Hanlon : As soon as yon cairm into a hit of monov vou wanted to get rid of him; wasn’t‘that so?—Ho; ho said, “You don’t want me now got some money,” and I said, “No, you can go.”' He was in my road. Exactly, and now you want to push him nut and get as’much as yon can out of him. Defendant’s story was that the trouble was not drink at all. When they married he wanted his place in the house, but complainant was equally determined to rule the roost. When he went home one day and found his bed gone he asked lii.s wife where it was. She said she’d sold it, and he remarked, “ A fine wife von arc!” They then had a row, and ho slept by the fire that night, with a coat over him. Owing to an accident at Gippsland (Victoria) his health had been impaired, and he was unable to do heavy work. To Mr H. L. Cook (for complainant) : Where do you look for work—in the hotel ?—No, '[ look anywhere and am keen to get it. The Magistrate (Mr Bundle) ; Who has kept your children for the past ten years? Defendant ; I always made payments whenever I went back. T paid £6 10s. tho last time. That isn’t much to keep them for four years. What is your wife’s financial position?—l don’t know; she never confided in me. She would rather put her confidence in some smooth-faced, oilytongued gentleman than in an honest man. Mr Hook said that complainant had about £IOO loft out of her legacy, and had paid a further £SO ou a house. His Worship said ho would not make any orders for separation or guardianship. It‘was clear that the parties'lived unhap-, pily from the start, and he did not accept the statements of cither that the fault was all on tho other aide. Considering tlie circumstances under which the ructions took place, it was not a matter for maintenance for the wife. It was different . regarding the younger child, and he would make an order for tho payment of £SO for past maintenance for her, this to be maid at the rate of ISs per week. Costs (£2 2s) were allowed.