“EIGHTY PER CENT. KISSES.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 242, 26 September 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

“EIGHTY PER CENT. KISSES.”

DOMESTIC ELYSIUM. “Has not our 18 years of married life been 80 per cent, kisses and real honest affection, and only 20 per cent, quarrels?” This question was asked by William Henry Martin after his wife had given evidence against him on a charge of having assaulted her. Rita Lavinia Martin, in answer to her husband, said: “No; you have often illtreated me.” The Bench adjourned the case for a week to enable the parties to adjust their differences. Mrs. Martin stated in evidence that her husband forced his way into her room and struck Tier three times wit h a stick. Sho wrested the stick from him and hit him in return. At night ho sought admission to her room, in whieft she fiad barricaded herself with her son, and her husband kept tip the siege until 3 or 4 a.m. Martin: We have healthy, happy children. Did I not insist that our daugnter and her lover should not stand in the cold, damp doorway, but come inside, re that my influence over her should not be undermined ? Mrs. Martin: I do not know. Martin said that he was an artist’s decorator and a journalist. He only desired to exercise his lawful authority over his wife, and did not assault her in the sense of viciously attacking her. It was oniv a domestic quarrel.