ACTION IN DIVORCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 304, 21 November 1936, Page 10

ACTION IN DIVORCE

DUNEDIN CASE. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Nov. 20. The divorce petition by David McCulloch, farmer, of Ngapnru, on the ground of separation, was continued to-day. Petitioner’s wife, Kean Rae Stirling McCulloch, is opposing the decree. Respondent stated in evidence that the first trouble between them occurred in 1922, when her sister came over from Scotland. At that time, her husband would often strike her on the head. Twice her gave her black eyes, and until 1929 there were isolated differences which wer© the result of sudden fits of temper on her husband’s part. In April, 1929, with her husband’s consent, she ordered from a Dunedin drapery store some clothes for the children as well as some clothing material, the whole amounting to about £lO. She was surprised when the goods dul not arrive, and later when she taxed her husband with having something to do with it he became angrv and struck her a smashing blow on the head. _He then left home and lived for some time with his uncle, later shifting to a hut. Her husband returned to the house in December, 1929. She attributed her domestic troubles to tbe interference of her husband’s relatives, especially his father and uncle, to whom her domestic affairs were common property. In reply to Mr Warrington regarding the allegations about her purchases of silk stockings, witness said she had bought only one pair at 355. On one occasion she had bought four pairs of shoes, but it was not true that she had walked in all of them so that they could not he returned. She had never refused to cook meals for him. Frederick William Hughes, Mrs McCulloch’s brother-in-law, said he had always considered that the trouble in the McCulloch family was caused by the husband. . Evidence was also given by two daughters of the parties, and at the conclusion of the evidence the Court adjourned until Monday.