A MAINTENANCE CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 6

A MAINTENANCE CASE.

BUSINESS OR DOMESTICITY. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Agnes Leary Blancho Black (Mr Johnston) applied for an ordor separating her from Robert Black (Mr M. Donnelly), her husband, and asking for the guardianship of the children. The complainant stated that she was married in 1895, and lived for some years at Bunvood, whore she and hor husband kept a farm. Her husband used to mention a Mrs Alexander frequently, and a little later ho bought a fruiterer's business. Under the arrangement Mrs Alexander was to teach her and he-; husband business methods. "Witness said that she was not. permitted into the shop, and was asked to give up the sitting-room to the teacher. On one occasion, when she entered the sitting-room suddenly, she found hor husband and Mrs Alexander seated together on a chair eatjng chocolates. Later her husband put her in a house in Queen Street, part of which was not fit to live in, and he neglected her and stayed away. He had promised to send Mrß Alexander away, but one morning, when she returned to the shop early , she found that her husband had been in the house alone with Mrs Alexander. She accused him of impropriety, but he replied that he would do what he liked. She remonstrated with her husband, and asked him for money. Ho turned on her and said: "You can go to hell and beg." She stated that when she was sent from the fruit shop to the house in Queen Street she was told that the business was sold, but, as a matter of fact, it was still being run by her husband and Mrs Alexander, and she believed was returning £5 weekly. Mrs Black 6aid that she was receiving no assistance from the defendant. Dr John R. Thomas said that when he called to see the complainant the husband led him to believe that ho thought Mrs Black was going out of her mind. There was, however, no suggestion of that. She was then in a state of collapse through continual worry. Clarence Black, about sixteen years, said that his father devoted more attention to the other woman. He hoard his father tell his mother that she could go to hell and beg. Mr Donnelly put the husband in the box, and asked him to tell his story concisely. "I'll put one question to you first, and that may save a lot of time—has there been any serious impropriety between you and that lady, Mrs Alexander? Defendant (in stentorian tones): No; I deny it. Mr Bishop: Then there is no need to accentuate the denial by raising your voice.

Defendant stated that Mrs Alexander was a widow ( and had had expsrience in the fruit business. Mrs Black had been worried over taking on the business, but had got jealous of Mrs Alexander, though entirely without cause. The story about the chair and the chocolates was false. On another occasion she saw him talking with Sergeant Jackson and thought that he was referring to her. She threatened to strike him, so to save trouble ho went out. On his return he found that the door had been nailed on the inside. He had to go to his brother's for shelter that night. ' He had given her money, but tlie sons had refused to allow the mother to accept it, because they said it was not enough. Now ho had lost the fruit business and had had to take work as a gardener at 8s a day. Mr Johnston: To whom have you disposed of the business? Black: Do I have to make that public?

Mr Bishop: Certaiuly you must. Black: T sold it to Mrs Alexander. Mr Johnston:,With you as first assistant! Mr Bishop: How much did she pay for HP „ , Black: Well. T hardly know. She does not have to pay anything, that is she has to pay off tho mortgage. I got nothing. Mr Bishop: And now you say you have nothing! Mr Donnelly suggested that as Mrs Alexander's character had been so ferociously attacked sho ought to be called as a witness. # Mr Bishop said that he did not think it was necessary to Call Mrs Alexander. The question of Black's relations with her was not an element in tho case. "I certainly think that he thought more of his business relations with Mrs Alexander than of his domestic relations with his wife," added tho Magistrate. He then wont on to say thai ho would not grant a separation order, but Blnck would havo to contribute £1 a week towards his wife's support and pay the costs of the proceedings.