MRS STEAD OBJECTS TO MAINTAIN ONCE WEALTHY HUSBAND.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 March 1930, Page 2

MRS STEAD OBJECTS TO MAINTAIN ONCE WEALTHY HUSBAND.

INCOME FROM MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT OF £IO,OOO

NOW LIVING IN A TENT,

AUCKLAND, Last Night.

An appeal against a I\lagist rate ’> Court order, requiring her to pay £;> a week to her husband, Gerald L. Stead, was made by Mrs. Stead in the Supreme Court to-day.

Stead obtained an order under the Destitute Persons Act, lust Octobei and an application by Mrs. Stead for a variation or cancellation of it was dismissed by the -Magistrate, Mr. Cutten. last month. Mr. A. 11. Johnstone, for Mrs, Stead, said the marriage took place in 190 S) and by the marriage settlement, £IO,OOO was paid to trustees who were to pay from the income £3OO a year to Mrs. Stead and the balance, approximately £2OO, to the husband. The parties separated in April, ISi'Jfi, u deed of separation was entered into and the wifi' lived in Melbourne with the throe children of the marriage. Tinder the deed of separation the balance of the income which formerly went to the husband was paid to the wife for the education of the children, under certain conditions. The wife knew nothing of the October proceedings and when she discovered the orderhad been marie, she decided to test its validity.

Counsel said that at the hearing o' last month ’s application, it was proved that Stead was living in adultery at Tnkapuna. Ho submitted (hat no wife, iii these days, would he asked-to main tain a husband who was living in adultery Two men living at Milford, one of whom formerly worked with Steae in fishing business, said Stead and *t woman who was generally '-ailed * ‘ M rStead" lived in a lent and had ’he" meals in a eon verted ga rage. They conducted an establishment known ms the Tukti tea-rooms .

51 r. M owbray, for Bt«md. said M-. Johnstone had nnf emphasised tin- fan 1 that the m.mJy was originally Hm property of Stand. A 1 the time ol himarriage. fVead set nsnle th'S snm a* inoni'v am! made a settlement m- hos wife. As time went on. his ci’-enm-stances altered .and he b“.-ame dastitr.to. He had vnulravoured to e*i»-n ''a honest living, hot he was rot broimbt up to anv trade or profession, \* v <*ns adiuilled that -he had bwd ou the sane premises with the woman tor 1 lie pas*

vc-ii"-;. • She w’s u* who ha•' looked afte- v- bin- h> mrio-w fcl jIOSS a”d v-s v-.- 4 : V v’ - ■" Inm. :i'b><.rntic-' I’-- 1 l"' h-vi !■'•!■•)> b;min adultery with her was absoiute’v SI cad. in evidmm-'. descr’W Am ;-ii r- : 1 1 ding to h.s '-H U’-i loqg und said his. wife hud uc used ! of being drunk at one of the :'irL‘ (•i‘lpw'*s j>r Hastings. P :> did mo 'we with liis wife after that. She toM Inn she did not want to see him again and he next heard from her through, her lawvers and her brother, when they submitted a draft deed of reparation His wife told him that if he mgnnd the deed, she would let him have the interest on a sum of fdfiOfi in vested for him. He had asked her for this monov but never got anything.

Ho went to live at Takapuna about Hirer years ago-and tried to make H living at fishing and commission work. He answered every likely advertise ment for six weeks but no one wou'rt employ him, as he was too inexperienced. He became very ill and the woman who was now with him >n the shop nursed him. She gave up her position to him. After his illness, he had been obliged to call n meeting of his "redDors. His only asset was a section which his brother took over from him

at a price which enabled him to pay

IQs in the pound. A man in Melbourne had been constantly writing to his wife to go there and at the lirst opportunity she wtent. He had at one time been addicted to drink but he had become teetotal and it would be two years the next day since he had had a drink. His counsel produced a letter from one of the trustees, expressing the opinion that under the marriage settle ment, Stead was entitled to all the income over £3OO. Witness said he approached his brother, who advance*! Idm £1:50 tv. start .n business at Milford. In ; nswering Mr. Johnstone, witness said he had never been drunk in his life. It was neuritis he had suffered from at Tnkapuna. Ho had been sell ing racehoises and went to the race meetings at Ellerslie, but not to many. He went to live with the woman at Taknpnna. but did not pay her hoard, as he had nothing to pay. She called him Gerald and not “Daddy," as fa ? as he knew. He admitted that lie shared the same tent with her and when he had sufficient money to go on with the proceedings, it was his intention to marry her. What earnings either of (hem made went into a common fund.

In answering Mr. Mowbray, witness said his main object in going rii the races was to put through the sale of horses. That was one thing that ho knew quite a lot about. Ho owed £230 u. two banks. Mr. .foilnsfone said no wife should be called upon to contribute to an establishment such as had boon described. with !). common fund. 1-1 is Tlommr adjourned the ca.se Cot (he hearing of argument to-morrow. Gerald L. Stead, son of the late G. G Ktead. was for some years a very piomineat racing owner and with his brother, lie was left a large fortune. Among the horses which raced success fullv in his interest w; re Boniform. Bon Ton, Bon .Rove, Bar.deira. Los Angeles. St arland. Culp tit. The Toff. Guryev w, Roval Box, Ringdove, ViceAdmiral, Tim Doolan and Melee, all of which were good Mike earners.