THE RECTOR'S WIFE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 2

THE RECTOR'S WIFE

EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

BEATEN WITH STROP AND FED ON! SCRAPS.

A rector’s wife who applied for a maintenance and separation order in Barnstaple County Police Court, England, alleged that while the others at the rectory had porridge for breakfast she was forced to eat cold bacon and stale crusts, which usually formed part of the pony’s rations. She did not think her husband wanted her, as he seemed to he happier with his housekeeper, Miss Bond, and appeared unable to do without her. She was held down by 'someone else while her husband struck her with a razor strop. The rector, the Rev. Leslie C. Banks, of East Dowse, Barnstaple, denied ill-treating liis wife, and Sirs Banks admitted affixing a notice to the pulpit, and writing out a notice containing the words “Miss Bond, beware.” Mr Blanks said his house was still open to his wife if she would return. He added that the case was a mental one, and therefore the reliability of his wife’s memory was open to question.

WIFE AT ASYLUM

Mr J. L. H. Vellacott, for Mrs. Banks, said tha.t the parties were married in British Columbia in 1914. The. first child was born in Nova Scotia, and five weeks later the family returned to England. The rector was appointed chaplain to the forces and attached to a regiment at Grantham. A second child was born at Brixham, where Air. Banks was appointed rector. Mrs Banks had been sent to a mental home after the birth of her first hoy, as she was suffering from a nervous breakdown. Counsel said that she got better and asked her husband to secure her release, hut lie refused. Her release was finally secured by her brother-in-law. She was again sent to an asylum, after the birth of her second son, but recovered and was sent to a convalescent home • She returned to the rectory in February, 1926, when it was alleged that the unkind treatment commenced.

WOULD NOT RETURN

Evidence that her husband struck her with a razor strop while she was held down by someone was given by Airs Banks. She declared that she would not go back to the rectory while Miss Bond, the housekeeper. who had charge of the keys, was there. While others at the rectory had porridge for breakfast, she said, she had cold bacon and old crusts, which tlio puny usually shared with her. Answering questions by Air G. F. Lef’roy (for the rector). Airs. Btinks denied that it was because of violent attacks on her husband and child that she was sent away. Airs Banks added that she had taken on “charring” and had applied to the guardians for relief. She admitted affixing a notice to the pulpit and writing a notice containing the words, “ATiss Bond, beware.”

‘FRIGHTENED” OF CHILDREN

Lefroy said that -Mrs Bhnks was- frightened of her children, and they were frightened of her. She was not strong onongh, mentally or physically, to undertake the management of the home. Since June 29, when she left the house, her husband had not maintained her, though he had kept his house open to her. The present position was largely due to other people who. out of mistaken kindness, had taken in. May Hockridge. a servant at the rectory, said she once jumped out of the window because she was afraid that. Mrs Banks would “wallop'- her with a stick or something. The servant denied that Mrs. Banks was given crusts .to eat. Mr Banks was asked if lie was prepared to get rid of Miss Bbnd, and replied that he must have someone to keep the home together; He had his two- children to bi'ing up, and lie considered that Miss. Bond had put up with more than an average person would in her life at the rectory. An agreement was later arrived at between the parties. While the rector was driving home in a motor car after the proceedings he met with an accident, and was found on the roadside near Shirwell If,- Captain Fanshaw Boyle, one of the magistrates who had been on the bench. , Mr Banks was taken to the North Devon Infirmary with head injuries and a fractured wrist.