UNHAPPY FAMILY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11492, 20 November 1931, Page 2

UNHAPPY FAMILY

REVELATIONS IN WESTLAKE WILL CASE ALLEGED UNUSUAL CONDUCT OF DECEASED’S FATHER (Press Association-’ WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. The case in which probate of the last will and codicil of John- Brown Westlake, late of Pahiatua, was continued in tho Supreme Court before. His Honor Mr Justice MacTwo counsel -appeared for the Public Trustee and two for tho defendants. Catherines Louisa Westlake' and others. Under cross-examination, Mrs Westlake denied that it' was tho sou Arthur’s leaving homo and going to live with her relatives that annoyed W.estlake. She tend Arthur to leave home because of his lather’s treatment of him. Grace left homo because Westlake told her to go. Witness thought it -was to show ins nasty temper. Counsel: You had Westlake arrested in May 1928, on information given you by your brother!' Tho witness: Vies P ’ When liter husband was brpught back to Pahiatua the proceedings were withdrawn. She had not been given proof other than the word of her brother, that Westlake was leaving New Zealand, and she knew that her husband had considered he had been very unjustly treated by being arrested. Ho laid tried to get the children to renounce the Catholic. faith. Corroborating her mother’s story, Grace said she' only remembered lver father giving her money once, .That was ono Christmas when he gave her brother and herself Gd.. YNcstlane showed no fatherly interest' in them, and for years did not speak to witness. She had given her lather no cause for offence, or mental worry. Tho witness referred to an occasion when, as a result of her father’s threatening to murder her, sho w-ent to a policeman's house, jishe locked her bedroom door every night on her mother’s advice. iTlic evidence of tile sun, Arthur John Westlake, was a recital of harsh and cruel conduct on tlie part ol the father to the ■VJhildreu. Hie said: that, when be worked on the iann, breaking in rough land, he never received .sixpence in wages. Jl lie had to go to Pahiatua, 1m had a meal at a tea' shop. Counsel: “Who paid for that?“Witness: ‘‘My father.” “llow much?’’— 'Sixpence.” Witness said he never had the money to go to sports with. When ho was 20 years of age be left home to go to his uncle's place at Akaroa. His cousin lent him £lO, with which he bought clothes and paid bis lare. Constable F. Burrell, of Palnatua, described testator a s a “man of peculiar ideas at times.” Making mon'ev seemed to be liis hubby. He talked about his family occasionally and witness gathered that lie had nut much love for them. Joshua John Swigg. a saddler, ; who worked for Westlake for .some years, and who subsequently bought the business from him at Pahiatua, said that Westlake was hard with bis son and knocked him about, tie never gave him money. The unhappy relations between Westlake and his family at Pahiatua were described by .Mrs. I, A. Radcliffe, of Palmerston North, who boarded with the family lor some time at Pahiatua. Site thought AVest[ako “decidedly queer,” but the mo--tlier and children agreed very well together. The hearing was adjourned until f.o-morrow.