WIFE LEFT BEHIND

Evening Star, Issue 19385, 20 October 1926, Page 3

WIFE LEFT BEHIND

HUSBAND SPENDS FIVE YEARS IN STATES ARRESTED ON RETURN l After remaining in tho United States for five years Henry James Cronk returned to the dominion, and was arrested almost immediately afterwards on a charge of having faded to comply with tho terms of a maintenance order made in respect to his wife. Cronk appeared at tho City Police Court tliis morning. Dir Neill, who appeared for him, admitted tho arrears, which up till January 20, 1923, amounted to According to defendant s counsel Cronk was“marricd six years ago, but ho only lived with his wife for three months, tho latter then going to Auckland. Accused later applied tor tho restitution of conjugal rights, and succeeded in his action, but failed to provide bis wife with a home, although ho stated ho had a place at Port Chalmers. A maintenance order was made iimuust accused, and he was ordered to pay £2 per week to his wife. After servin'* a month’s imprisonment tie accused telegraphed his wife to the effect that he was taking up his old occupation on board ship, and no went to tho States, where hq remained for five years. Ho was quite safe there, hut decided to return in order to make it up with his wife. On arriving at Auckland he endeavored to got a coastal boat, but was arrested while leaving tho shipping company’s othccs. Mr Neill said that it would bo no advantage to anyone if Cronk was scut to ga Mr Hanlon said there was not the slightest chance of any arrangement being entered into by tho wile. Jic considered it was one of .the worst cases of tho kind that had corn© belorc the court “ Tho talo lie told about wantin'* to leave ou a coastal boat to .comp to'Duiicdin to make it up with Ins who is all moonshine.” added counsel. Thcv had reason to believo that _ accused had paid one or two other visits to tho dominion during his supposed sojourn in America. “Ho s particularly cheeky, as ho wanted to get a divorce, but ho found he had no grounds for that, so he applied for the restitution of his conjugal rights. The order was granted because there was no opposition.” Counsel, considered that accused had no intention of providing u homo for his wife. He had never offered her a home, and had cleared out of the country and remained out of it. “Tho wife is not going to make it up, but sho wants her maintenance. Jf defendant cannot pay ho will have to suffer the consequences. Mr Hanlon said that accused had been sending money to his relatives. Mr Neill said accused had been a (ook at sea all his life. Mr Hanlon said Cronk was discharged owing to his drinking habits. Dfr Neill: According to the accused tho discharge does not show that. Dir Hanlon: The matter could easily bo cleared up by producing tho dis-Senior-sergeant Qiinrtermain ; I’ve never seen a bad discharge yet. the police report shows that the man was discharged owing to his drinking habits. The accused said lie was willing to start all over again. Cronk was remanded until baumlav in order to give him an opportunity of communicating with his relatives.