ALLEGED WIFE DESERTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9598, 24 August 1894, Page 6

ALLEGED WIFE DESERTION.

AN INTERESTING CASE. At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. R. S. Bush, S.M., an elderly man named Samuel Southerby appeared to answer a charge of wife desertion. Mr. F. Baume (instructed by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children) appeared for the prosecution, the defendant being represented by Mr. G. N. Brassey, who was instructed by Mr. W. J. Napier. Mr. H. Wilding, President of the Society, was also present in Court. The complainant was a stout old lady, and evidently a confirmed invalid, for she appeared in Court on crutches, and required a considerable amount of assistance in order to get about. In answer to questions put by Mr. Baume, she said her husband had treated her very badly, and not looked after her in a proper way. She was afraid that he intended to ieave her in a destitute condition, as she believed he was about to leave for Sydney. Her husband was in good circumstances, having £50 a-year always coming in, and in addition to this a small pension. He had a horse and cart, but she could not say what he earned as he never took her into his confidence. She was a great invalid, and this was partly due to the defendant, for he had kept a large quantity of bones on the premises, to which she attributed her sickness. Mr. Brassey : How long is it since you asked this great Society for the Protection of Women and Children to come to your assistance ? Complainant: A few days. Mr. Brassey: What member of that august body was it that came to see yon ? Complainant: I first went to Mr. Wilding, and afterwards to Mr. Baume. Mr. Brassey : You are not always so mild as vou are today ? Complainant: Yes ; I am. Mr. Brassey: Have you not always told your husband that all women were bad, and all men thieves and liars? Complainant: No ; I have not. In answer to further questions the witness said she had no desire to handle her husband's money. She was not addicted to drink. She only had what her husband allowed her, and that was a pint a day. She was not a great eater. She could not touch some of the food her husband brought home. Her husband had two houses, and she believed one of them was in her name. Her husband said he was going to Sydney about a merry-go-round that he wanted to buy Mr. Brassey : He left you well provided with whisky and beer? Witness : No, he did not; there is not a drop of whisky in the house that I know of. (Laughter.) Mr. Brassey : You have also half-a-ton of coal ? „ Complainant: Yes, I have, but that is not good to eat. Mr. Brassey : Your husband always buys you what you ask him to ? Witness : No, he does not; he comes home and says he forgot to get it. Mr. Brassey : Does he often kiss you ? Witness: I decline to answer that question. Constable Stanyer deposed to arresting the defendant. Tho defendant, in his evidence, gave a complete denial to the statements made by his wife. He had always, he said, treated her well and provided her with everything that she desired. At times they got on very well together, but his wife was not a patient woman. He had no intention of deserting her; he had married her, and he intended to stick to her until the last. His wife had not acted rightly towards him. Seven years ago, when he went to Sydney, he made a property over to her, and on his return he found she had borrowed £50 on it at ihe rate of 12J per cent. She had been an invalid for ten years. His Worship said he was not satisfied with the evidence as to the desertion, and did not feel justified in making an order. He suggested that the matter should stand over, in order to see if some arrangement between the parties could not be arrived at. Mr. Brassey said the defendant was quite willing to deposit any amount with the Court. The defendant said he did not wish to get out of paying for his wife. He had done all in his power to please her. He had washed her feet and cut her corns, and attended to her in every way, Mr. Bush refused to make any order, and discharged the accused.