A PECULIAR CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14427, 18 July 1907, Page 4

A PECULIAR CASE.

MARRIED WOMAN'S- TROUBLES. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 17. The wife of James M’Neil, tinsmith, residing at St Helier’s Bay, applied yesterday for a separation order, tho grounds .being that ho had become too dangerous to live with. According to tho wife’s story M’Neil had become possessed of strange and fearsome fancies, one of the most abiding being the conviction that every room in tho house had a phonograph in it. He also went in for displays of dumb show, suggestive of gruesome happenings, his far vourito gesture being a phantomTc performance of cutting her tongue, occasionally substituting her throat as hia field of operation. Three weeks ago she had been obliged to flee the house and take up her abode with her father. She was making application on medical advice.

Mr Brookfield, who appeared for tho applicant, said that defendant got up one night at midnight and cut a hole in tho roof, putting his head through *fc and surveying things below in a threatening manner.

M’Neil: Nothing- of the sort. Tho wife objected to my smoking in the bedroom so I just went up and cut a hole to allow tho smoke to escape. Mr Alexander explained that he represented the man’s employers, Harvey and Sons, who gave M’Neil the best of character as a. sober and industrious workman. He had been given a holiday lately, as it had been considered he was run down. The man was in a state of nervous debility, and wanted a spell.

His Worship decided to let tho caa« stand over for a month.