A SEPARATION CASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 September 1928, Page 5

A SEPARATION CASE.

WIFE’S ALLEGATIONS OF CRUELTY.

An application for separation, guardian ship and maintenance orders was made at the Opunake Court- yesterday before ’Mr R. TV. Tate, S.M.; by Edith Tippens' against her husband, William

Benny Weilmm Tippens:. Mr P. O’Den appeared for plaintiff, and Mr O. H. Crokfer for defendant. Plaintiff claimed custody of the two children aged seven years and seventeen months respectively. Plaintiff wave evidence that she had been married 17 years next Christmas She was three years older than her husband. Since their marriage they had lived' in Wanganui, Norfolk Road, Itiverlea Rail Block, Ngaere and Opnnake. While living on the; Main Road, the stock was in her name, but Hic-

did n it handle the cheques-, and when they removed to the Witeara Road the husband, received the money for the stock. , She had lieloed on the farms ml. through. ho,i- married life. In the earls days they were fairly, happy, save for occasional bursts.of temper by her husband, wliicli sly? overlooked. It was only during the- past 12 months that matters became really bad. While defendant was a land agent in Stratford', complainant heard about hinn “running about with a certain lady,” but she said nothing about it as: sihe did not believe it, and was anxious 'to live happily. Twelve months ago- matters became unbearable, and Tiopens got her into such a nervous state that she be•a me ill and visited Dr. Church. Matters got so unbearable that she went tc Mr Crocker, who advised her to go for a, holida-'' but knowing their financial position witness went to work at a- private hospital, “thinking that workinp with rational '.people would affect an improvement.” She afterwards returned home, but her husband’s taunts soon nr.de it unbearable again. There was trouble over a young girl who- was working for them. Witness wanted lo gef rid of her and finally, when her parents wanted her home and she did go, defen- ■ lout gave her no peace- until the girl came back. Witness alleged that she soon found she was not mistress in her awn home. The girl made faces behind witness’s back and sneered at her, defendant telling her not to take any notice of plaintiff. Plaintiff gave lengthy evidence regarding her husband’s alleged .acts of cruelty and use of abusive language. She said that he had told her on various occasions to “get out’’ and to do awav with herself. I

Dr. T. N. Watt gave evidence that Mrs Tippens had visited: him on .June 13. He found severe bruises on tlu arm, shoulder and chest, the latter blue and large. The bruises appeared to bt a few days old and from the numerous oositin.s they were in, iit would have been impossible for them to have been caused bv a- fall, unless it was from an epileptic iit. Physically, she had! been in a, nervous state—almost on the verge of a breakdown, the reasons she gave being consistent therewith. Mentally die a,pipeared quite normal and he gave her advice which she took reasonably. It would naturally have a depressing effect if a husband were always making suggestions about his wife. One rea--,r>n why he gained the impression that she was mentally normal was that, despite being in a '.state of nervous <k>pwissioii she had agreed' to go hack home and make the very best of it. After lengthy cross-examination bv counsel, for defendant, the hearing was

.idjoiirned. the magistrate stating that ly» would ni-uhabiv set down a special lay l-.'ir its continuation.