TELEGRAM TO JUDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18355, 22 March 1923, Page 7

TELEGRAM TO JUDGE.

WITNESS SENDS IT COLLECT.

WIFE'S DRESS BILL CASE. LONDON, March 8. Mr. Justice McCardie, the " bachelor Judge," had a surprise packet for tla| plaintiff's counsel when he resumed the hearing of the case in which Captain Nash was sued by a dressmaking firm for a large sum due by his wife for dresses. The husband had stated that he realised £6000 by mortgage to pay her divorce expenses,* and. found when he married her that she owed £18,000 for clothes. He ruined himself to pay the bill. The case was reopened at counsel request to enable the wife to appear.Counsel read a telegram from Paris from the wife; stating that her doctor forbade the trip to London, and asking to have her evidence taken in Paris. The husband's counsel protested, and said there ought to be a medical affidavit. Argument followed, and then Mr. Justice McCardie slowly produced two long telegrams from his pocket, and read out deliberately one from the wife, saying that she could not come because her expenses were not guaranteed. Mr. Justice McCardie added'grimly that the telegrams had been sent to him " collect." His agents had been • obliged to pay a substantial sum. "If she sent her husband similar telegrams," he added, "he would soon be thrust into ignominious poverty." The Judge said he strongly raspected throughout that the wife wanted only to injure the husband, without risking crossexamination. He refused the application.