POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17339, 10 December 1919, Page 12

POLICE COURT NEWS.

I MAINTENANCE CASE PAILS. i REFUSAL, TO ANSWHI QUESTION. A case in which Marion F. Cowan sought maintenance from Charles A. Cowan (Mr. A. Moody), fisherman, Onehuriga, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, ended very abruptly. The complainant, examined by Mr. Moody, stated that she had six children, and admitted that she had recently left home. When pressed she admitted she had drawn £77— husband's retrospective allowance— the Defence Department, and, with the exception of £20, which she gave her nnsband, she had used it in supporting tne children. "What about tne £160 allotted to the children?*' asked counsel. "That is for their education," replied the woman. The Magistrate then told the complainant she was trustee for the money, and it was to be used for the children's maintenance and not to be boarded up for their future use. "How much money did you spend on your recent trip to Wellington! added counsel. "Quite a lot." "And what have you done with the £140 you drew out of the bank a week or two ago!" This queston the woman refused to answer, and she tried to evade a direct reply by repeating "what has this to do with the case!" "A great deal," rejoined Mr. Wilson, "and" if yon do not answer* it I shall dismiss your application at once." The woman, however, remained obdurate, and the magistrate dismissed the' case ■without comment. The complainant left the court crying, "What is a woman to do ? Isn't a man bound to keep bis wife?" \ ARREARS OF MAINTENANCE. Florence Aggers (Mr. Singer) sought to recover arrears in maintenance from (James . Aggers, bootmaker. The complainant said that, though the order was made for £1 a week about two years ago, she had received only 15s a week. She had fust come out of hospital and could not expect to continue living on the same allowance, i ' The defendant said be earned only 30s a ! week, and " had to make some provision for his old age." The magistrate made an order for one month's imprisonment, to be suspended for one month to give the : defendant time to pay £10 arrears. | Future maintenance was ordered at the full rate of £1 a week. ' | In a case in which James Snell Wilson i was charged with failure to comply with ! an order for the maintenance of his wife : and children the complainant stated that her husband had admitted immoral relations with other women, and had threatened to starve her into taking divorce proceedings She did not wish her children, however, "to go through life with the stir»ma of a divorced father upon them." She said he owned £100 worth of mining shares, and his share in his mother's estate was worth £1000. ; The defendant admitted that thece last two statements were correct, but said he could not realise on either property. He was earning £5 a week, but bad heavy med'eal expenses to meet. j The magistrate said that, the defendant, I even though incapacitated through illness, should have made some effort to realise , or to borrow money to pay for hi» chil- ; dren's sunport. Hp would be given-, one month in which to pay the arrears, £13 15s, in default one month's imprisonment. i —————__ —. ACCUSED FAINTS IN COURT. A charge of having consorted with re- ■ • puted thieves was admitted by John Alfred Pryor (Mr. Matthews, jun.). As the accused had fa ; nted in court before being called to the dock the ch : ef detert : ve suggested a week's remand for medical treatment. To this the magistrate agreed. I DRUNKENNESS. j George Warren Hastings, a second offender for drunkenness, was fined £1; four first offenders forfeited 10s bail, and one was convicted and discharged. j