POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22359, 8 June 1936, Page 10

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, JUNE 8. (Before Mr H. AV. Bundle, S.M.) CASE ADJOURNED. Walter James White was proceeded against by his wife (for whom Mr C. J. L. White appeared) for a maintenance order.—The complainant gave evidence of marrying her husband after knowing him for six months. After living together for six weeks they had separated because lie was associating with other women. He had agreed to pay her £1 a week, but the payments, were not maintained. He was at present rabbiting near Balclutha.—The Magistrate said he did not intend to make an order without the evidence of her husband being heard, and the case was accordingly adjourned to Balclutha till June 24. DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS PENDING

James Hodge White, represented by Mr E. J. Anderson, was proceeded against by his wife for maintenance and guardianship orders. Air Anderson said that the children were at present being educated in a leading northern school. In view of the circumstances of the dispute, which extended from 1925, the less the children were associated with the case the better. Inquiries had been instituted in Edinburgh and Colombo, and counsel now had affidavits in his possession in which it was alleged that while drawing maintenance from ,her husband she went through a form of marriage with an engineer in Colombo. A suggestion was made that divorce proceedings were to be instituted, but Mrs White insisted on maintenance proceedings. For some obscure reason she persisted in remaining here, though it was obvious that the parties would never be rehabilitated, and though an offer had been made to her to return to her relations in England. The complainant stated that she was now destitute and was getting charitable assistance. Mr Anderson said that, though reluctant to do so, he could call the registrar to swear an affidavit in which the engineer in Colombo swore that Mrs AVhite was the woman he lived with in Edinburgh and Colombo. The Magistrate asked her whether she denied that she entered into a form of marriage with anybody. Airs AVhite: Must I answer that question ?

The Magistrate: Yon are not on oath and are not compelled to do do. He said that ns divorce proceedings were being taken he would not consider the question of access to the children or their custody in the meantime. That would be a matter for the Supreme Court to decide. The adjournment was then taken. /