WIFE SMACKED

Evening Star, Issue 22891, 24 February 1938, Page 16

WIFE SMACKED

FAMOUS HORSEMAN HE DEMANDED ADMIRATION " ' ' ~ WitH unsparing’ frankness, Sir Boyd Merriman, president of ' the Divorce Division in London, laid the blame on an army officer, who enjoys considerable repute as a horseman, for extraordinary incidents that upset his marriage. The judge said of the officer: “ In relation to his wife he demanded perfect submission, unhesitating obedience, and admiration of his prowess.” The president granted a judicial separation to Mrs Peggy Barbara MacNeece, of Folkestone. In her suit Mrs MacNeece charged her husband, Captain John Frederick Donald MacNeece, of the Royal Artillery, with cruelty, which he denied. Captain and Mrs MacNeece were married in September, 1933, at Saltwood Parish Church, Kent, and in August, 1936, the wife left her husband.

Giving judgment, Sir Boyd Merriman remarked that at the time of the marriage Captain MacNeece was 33 and his wife 23. The wife showed herself—and the evidence was to the same effect—to be a bright, attractive, spirited young woman. “ I am satisfied,” stated the president, “ she was very much in love with her husband at the time they married, and was eager to make the marriage a success. She admits she kicked her husband once and slapped his face, and hit him on the head on another occasion when he was driving a car, but I do hot think she .had a bad or nasty temper. “ Captain MacNeece has a considerable reputation, not only in the Army, but ouside it, as a horseman,, particularly in the ring, the Royal Tournament, and the Horse Show. As to his military character, witnesses have said he is quite good-temipered and he has never used towards his subordinates language of the sort which he is alleged to have used to his wife.

“ Whatever may be the military equivalent of the words ‘ scarlet woman,’ and ‘ sewer,’ ” commented the judge, _ “ they are not encouraged in the British Army as between an officer and other ranks. Captain MaoNeece was filled and actuated by insensate jealousy of his wife in regard to his own mother, his own married brother, and his own battery commander.” Remarking _ that Captain MacNeeee made a bad impression upon him as a witness, the president continued: “He was affable and plausible, and was talking as one man of the world to another. In what has now become a lengthening stream of spouses who pass through the witness box in this court, I have never been so conscious of listening to the embodiment of the egoist. Upon the major points I am satisfied He was deliberately trying to deceive me.” Sir _ Boyd Merriman stated when Captain MaoNeece and his wife returned from their honeymoon they had no liquid _ refreshment in the house. The captain wanted to go out and celebrate, but his wife was tired and wanted to stay in. He then showed what the judge thought was his real character, and told her the marriage had got to begin as it was going on. In substance, whether he used words that he would “ break her in ” or “ break her spirit,” he took the line which had led to most of the trouble between them. I find as a fact,” Sir Boyd continued, “ the wife was telling me the truth when she said her husband threw her on a sofa because he said she had been late for some guests who were coming, and had done it to make a fool of him before them. She said he twisted her ami, put her over his knee and smacked her, saying it was the only way to treat women of her sort.”