HUSBAND’S CRUELTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 143, 21 May 1925, Page 5

HUSBAND’S CRUELTY

AN AMAZING STORY.

WIFE OBTAINS SE^AAATION,

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 20. An amazing story of a husband’s cruelty towards his wife was told in the Supremo Court before Air Justico Herdmau today, when Ida Susan Jermings sought a decreo for judicial separation from Edgar William Jennings, describee, as a land agent. Mr Newberry stated that the defence had been withdrawn. His Honour: Then it is an undefended case ?

Mr Newberry: Yes. In evidence, petitioner arid that sho was married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in February, 1923, and there was one child of the marriage. The parties lived in Park road, in Remuera, and Roslyn avenue. Three months after marriage her husa.ind became indifferent tc her and used bad language. Ho was g ring to take her to England, but he told her that sho was too ignorant and that people would laugh at her. lie allowed her no visitors in the house and threatened her lifo repeatedly, so that her health broke down, and she was in hospital for some time. Once ho threatened her door with an axe, and another time threatened to kick her, so that she had to go to the servants’ quarters for protection. Before her baby was born he took away her wedding ring. Finally, said petitioner her husband drove her one night out of the home. Next day she went back to the house, jut the butler refused her admittance, saying that it was Mr Jennings’ orders. Later ihc heard that her husband was ill, so sho went to nurse him. Mediation followed, hit soon afterwards her husband’s bad conduct returned. She had to oat her meals in the nursery and the rooms in the house * wore locked against her. For some weeki her husband was on a drinking bout. \\ hen the baby was ill she sent for a lady to examine it, but her husband refused to allow tho woman to attend to the chi d. He onco ordered her out in tho middle of tho night to get the baby’s clothes off a line, and when she refused ho used insulting language to her. One day her husband at tacked her while she had tin baby in her arms. He caught hold of ler loft hand and-bent it back, breaking one of tho fingers. She broke away f.-om him and screamed for help. Sho hid lost three stone in weight since her marriage, and she was now frightened to go back to her husband.

Corroborative evidence oi respondent’s treatment was given by Seigeant Brown, father of petitioner. Once when petitioner offered to kiss her husband Jennings told her to keep awi.y or else he would kick her.

His Honour made an order for judicial separation, petitioner :o havo custody of the child. Air Leary (for petitioner) naid he understood up to the last mon ent that tho caso would be defended, and had come prepared with 15 witnesses 11 is Honour ordered respondent to pay costs on the highest scale. The question of permanent alimony was leserved.