Husband Divorces Strong Wife

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1940, Page 7

Husband Divorces Strong Wife

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “There is a very officious body called the Society for the Protection of Women and Children; apparently there should also be a society for the protection of husbands and other children.” Mr Justice Northcroft made this comment in the Supreme Court yesterday, when counsel in a divorce case declared that the husband had been knocked about by his physically stronger wife. “Unfortunately no such organisation exists,” replied counsel. Grounds for Application On the grounds of a verbal agreement to separate in June, 1936, Leonard William Austin petitioned for divorce from Elsa May Austin. The petition was opposed by the respondent, who alleged desertion by her husband. "The respondent was a very strong woman,” said counsel, “and used to boast that she was a female George Walker. She was quite capable of ‘worsting’ him in a physical contest. “She used to deliberately damage tiie house and furniture in fits of ungovernable temper. “Worsted” in Struggle Counsel added that in June, 1936. when petitioner was suffering from blood poisoning, he and his wife had a quarrel, which ended in Mrs Austin’s "worsting" him in a struggle. After that he left the house. His Honour granted a decree nisi to be made absolute in three months. He said that if petitioner had overstated the facts surrounding the separation, respondent had grossly understated the facts, and he was disposed to disbelieve the respondent. She had given no rational reason for the parting. "I am not prepared to believe that she wanted her husband back," said His Honour. “She did nothing to heal the breach between them, and has actually taken formal steps to make the separation permanent through an order of the court."