BARON'S WIFE AS TYPIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

BARON'S WIFE AS TYPIST.

A LIFE OF TERROR.

1 PLATE THROWING HUSBAND. 1 ' 1 Panful stories of domestic unhiippiness were told by the English wife of a Danish barcaj in the King's Pencil Division. Mt. Herbert Percy Talbot. a solicitor, sued [the wife of Baron Axel Flic von Boris, residing at Doughty-street, W.C., to recover £3251 on two promissory notes signed by her and her husband.

-As Mr. Talbot had failed to serve the hushand, the action proceeded against the ile, who pleaded I hat she was coerced into signing the notes. In January last Mr. Frank Leslie Ball, a solicitor, introduced Baron Axel von Boris to Mr. Talbot, when Mr. Talbot Advanced £250 on a promissory note for £100 signed by the baroji and his wife. On February 23 Mr. Talbot made an advance of £75 on a- second promissory note'for £100. The notes when due were not met. Baron von Boris had left the country. Mr. Talbot asked for the return of the £325 which he had advanced ami interest ai the rale of live jK'r cent. Mr. I'. L. Ball. jiin.. solicitor, who was present when the baron signed the notes, was cross-examined as to the signatures.

Do you know that the baron's wife is earning £1 a week as a typist'.' —1 do not. When you obtained her signature did yon toll her what she was making herseit responsible for?---Yes. Was it necessary to drag the wife in to make her pay 96 per cent, interest'/ — I told her what she was doing.

Did she get a, single sovereign of the money advanced?l do not know. The money saved her furniture from being .seized under an execution issued against the baron.

Counsel, stating tlie defence, said that the baron had treated his wife with great cruelty. He had Hung knives and plates at her. and she hud the top of her ear nearly cut off. but- with that affection which some women seemed to have for some men Mrs. von Boris screened hep husband. The baron left his wife in June last, when he found that ho could get no more money from her friends.

A doctor gave evidence of injuries received by Mis. vou Boris. Ikying a friend of the family, ho had opportunities of see* ing that Mis. von Boris, very submissive to her husband. The husband binned her. and he was not surprised that- the wife was afraid of him.

Mrs. von Hons .stated that she-"married in June, 1907. Before the marriage she had lent her husband money, and he tad pawned some of her jewellery.. Mr. Justice I'hilliinore: And you mar ried him notwithstanding? The defendant: Yes ; he was hard up — Continuing, she said she was a shorthand typist- to a firm of architects before her marriage. She did not given up her situation when she married. She thought her husband was extravagant, and that it would be (tetter to keep her situation for a time. Her wages went towards the household expenses. MY JiU'K WAS AWFUL. Counsel: How did your husband treat you after marriage'.'Almost from the first he ill-treated me. The witness mentioned acts of violence. She invariably gave way to him to have peace. Did ho give you sufficient for housekeeping?— He gave me a. certain sum when he thought he would. Ido not know what he did with his money.

Mr. Justice Pliillimore : Had he any profession?— He was in business in the city. Did he come home every night?—He would come homo to dinner and then go out. During the twelvemonths before he went away he invariably remained out all night. Mis. von Boris, continuing, said -that Mr. Wall. jun.. did'not explain to her the nature of the note's, but- her husband gave her an explanation, which she subsequently discovered was untrue. -nStie did not receive a farthing of the money advanced.

What induced you to sign the notes?— I was in terror of my husband. I ■ nless I gave way to him in everything my life was perfectly awful.

The caretaker of the Hats in Doughty - street. in which Mrs. von Boris resides gave evidence that She had 'seen the baron strike Mr.", von Boris in the hull with a stick. . -After half' an hour's deliberation the jury returwd their replies to questions put by his lordship as follow: — ' 1. WaS Mrs. von Boiis's signature to the promissory note for £400 obtained by duress?— 2. The same question .with regard to the note for £100"'Yes. 3. Was the substance of''the transaction its to the £400 note sufficiently explained to Mrs, von Boris?— No. 4. The same question ne to the £100 note?— Yes. 5. Did she know when she signed the promissory note for £400 she was incurring possible liability to Talbot for the benefit of her husband?— Yes.

6. Same quest-ion as to the £100 note'.'— Yes.

7. Did Talbot advance money on the £400 note, and, if so. how much? —Yes. £250. 8. The' same question as to the £100 note?— Yes, £75. ' 9. If there was any duress, id Talbot know of it ?—No. Mr. Justice Phillin.iore gave judgment- for £100 on the £400 bill and for £75 on the £100 bill. His lordship said there was nothing in this case in the nature of a medisevnl story in which a weak woman, might sign when threatened by "five strong men with swords and axes." Such pressure, lie "said, would have, enabled the defence to avoid the documents altogether, but in this case the lady was in a civilised country and within call of a policeman. A stay of execution on the usual terms was granted.