A DIVORCE SEQUEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 14060, 15 May 1906, Page 5

A DIVORCE SEQUEL.

A FIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN. A remarkable case was heard yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M. John Scott (Mr Hoban) sued Frank Hickinbottom and Emma Annie Scott (Mr Wright) for £9 15s. At the last moment, the claim against Emma Annie Scott was withdrawn. It appeared that the defendants commenced divorce proceedings in December last, and a decree nisi was made, the decree being made absolute in the following March. The first decree gave the defendant Hickinbottom charge of the children. The claim was for the maintenance of the children and of Mrs Hickinbottom prior to the issue of the first decree, and of the children afterwards. The plaintiff said that the children and their mother were kept by him, with the knowledge of the defendant, Hickinbottom, the woman being quite destitute. The defendant stated that he tried to get his children from the plaintiff in various ways, but could not do so for a long time. Me had been given legal custody of them by the first decree of divorce, but when he applied to his late wife for them to be given up, she told him ho would never get them alive, and she would sooner kill herself than give them up. On one occasion he'was told the-family was away, and-he took a friend with him, in a cab, to the house, knowing that a constable, without a warrant, could do nothing, but that, his friend would bo willing to' run any risk there was. TV hen they reached the house his friend, named Priest, went and spoke to the children, and .asked them to go away with him.' The father then came in, and each seized one of the children, and commenced to carry them off. Plaintiff’s father-in-law then came out, and added his resistance to that of the cousin of the children, and such a disturbance resulted that the two had to desist. Defendant stated’that he never desired the children to stay where they were, add had received advice that he had a perfect right to their custody unconditionally. Judgment was given for defendant, without any order as to costs..