“THE ETERNAL TRIANGLE”

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 October 1935, Page 8

“THE ETERNAL TRIANGLE”

ASSAULT AND MISCHIEF ALLEGED DIVORCE ACTION PENDING Upon the 'application of counsels appearing for the parties concerned in cases of alleged assault and mischief at Warea, an adjournment of the hearing was granted at the monthly sitting of the Opunake Magistrate’s Court yesterday by Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M., until the January sitting. Donald Leonard Betteridge was changed with assaulting Henry Percival Johns at Warea on July 9, 1935, and also with committing mischief by wilfully damaging property belonging to Johns. Gordon Francis Shute was also charged with committing mischief by damaging property belonging to Johns. Mildred Betteridge was charged with presenting a firearm at Shute and Betteridge at Warea on the same date without some lawful and sufficient purpose.

Senior-Sergeant Turner conducted the prosecution, and Mr A. A. Bennett appeared for Betteridge and Shute, and Mr C. H. Croker for Mrs Betteridge and Johns. “All this case arises from what we are accustomed to call ‘the eternal triangle,’ ” said Mr Bennett. “It is a case of husband and wife and another man. It ivas the result of an attempt by Betteridge, accompanied by a workmate, Shute, .to proceed to the property of Johns to get- evidence to prove adultery.”

In the minds of these two men there was no intention of any breach of the law either in breaking in the doors or assault. Betteridge, however, lost his head and broke in the door and assaulted Johns. Shute had done no damage whatever. Divorce proceedings had been instituted and these would be coming on at the next sessions undefended, said Mr Bennett. Under these circumstances he would ask Tor an adjournment for three months. There was no fear of any recurrence in the circumstances. It seemed to him that the matter really only vitally concerned the parties themselves. He instanced another case in New Zealand where the police had not instigated proceedings at all when it was known a divorce was pending. “It is a case of the least said at the present moment the better for all,” said Mr. Croker. He considered it,was in the best interests of everybody to adjourn the case. Senior-Sergeant Turner said that there had already been one adjournment and the police desired to go on with the case.

Mr Woodward: Are there any other people concerned ? Senior-Sergeant Turner: Only through curiosity. He stated that the fact that these men should take the law in their own hands and break into a house made it necessary for the police to pursue proceedings. Mr Bennett added that Shute had taken no part in the matter beyond being there. In the course of the scuffle a blind was pulled down, hut that was purely accidental. Mr Croker said he had seen both Mrs Betteridge and Johns. and he thought it was best to have an adjournment. It was a night-time thing and something had. to be done for protection in the future. There was no

fear of that now in view of the pending divorce. In the meantime, Mrs

Betteridge and Johns had had the protection of the police, but now that was not needed. Mr Woodward: What they alleged amounted to an offence and the police thought it necessary to institute an action. “If this case is a case that will be imparted on the public then it is best to adjourn it to the January sitting” lie concluded.