HUSBAND’S CRUELTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1925, Page 3

HUSBAND’S CRUELTY

——— KICK FOR A KISS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 20. , An amazing stoyy of a husband’s cruelty toward Ins wile was tom. in tne Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Herdman, when Ida Susan Jennings (Mr Leary)' sought a decree im judicial separation from Edgar William Jennings, described as a land agent. Mr Newberry stated that the defence had been withdrawn. His Honor: Then it is an undefended case? Mr Newberry : Yes. lii evidence, petitioner said that she was married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in February, 1923, and that there was one child of the marriage. The parties lived in Park Load in Remuera and Roslyn avenue. Three months after their marriage her husband became indifferent to her, and used bad language. Her husband was going to take her to England but he told her she was too ignorant, and people would laugh at her. He allowed her no visitors in the house, and threatened her life repeatedly, so that her health broke down, and shewas in hospital for some time. Once he threatened her door with an yxe, and another time threatened to kick her, so that she had had to go to the servants’ quarters for protection. Before the baby was born he took away her wedding ring. Finally, said petitioner, her husband drove her one night out of the house. Next day she went back to th? house, but the butler refused her admittance, saying it was Mr Jenning’s orders. Later, she heard her husband was ill, so she went to nurse him. Reconciliation followed. but soon afterwards her husband’s bad conduct returned. She had to take her meals in the nursery, and the rooms in the house were locked against her. For some weeks her husband was on a "drinking bout. When the baby was ill, she sent for a lady to exannne'it, but her husband refused to allow the woman to attend to the child. He once ordered her out in the middle of the' night to get the baby’s clothes off a line, and when she refused he used insulting language to her. One day her husband attacked her while she had the baby in her arras. He caught hold of her left hand and bent it back, breaking one of her fingers. She broke away from him and screamed for help- She had lost three stone in weight since her marriage. She was frightened to go back to her husband. Corroborative evidence of respondent’s treatment was given by Sergeant Brown, father of petitioner. Once when petitioner- offered to kiss her husband Jennings told her to keep away, or else he would kick her. His Honor made an order for a judicial separation, petitioner to have custody of the child. _ Mr Leary said he understood up to last moment that the case would be defended, and had come prepared with 15 witnesses. His Honor ordered respondent to pay costs on the highest scale. Die question of permanent alimony was reserved.