THE MEWHINNEYS AGAIN!

NZ Truth, Issue 130, 14 December 1907, Page 5

THE MEWHINNEYS AGAIN!

— <$, A CIVII- SERVANT'S DOMESTIC TROUBLES. No Lawyer Will Take Up Her Case. Magistrate Riddell is Worried and Puzzled. The domestic of civil servant Oliver Mewhinney, and his pretty, but eccentric, wife, Nettie Lena, have been prominently before the Wellington public of late months, per medium of the Magistrate's Court. Nettie's inability to live with Oliver is known even to the smallest' boy m the street by this time, and it is like picking up a serial yarn, that is always "to be continued" to drop across a report of further Court proceedings instituted by the dissatisfied- lady. \ Nettie Lena sued Oliver for maintenance on Monday last, and the badgered male nerson, through Lawyer . Wilford, pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to provide the heedful crust. Counsel proceeded to give an outline of the position, but Magistrate Rid- ' dell, whose 'recollection is 'good, remarked that the Court had been made sufficiently acquainted with the particulars m a previous case. Counsel recalled that after a hearing; lasting four days, the case was dismissed. Mewhinney then offered his energetic spouse a comfortable home, W'hdch she still rejected, and this offer was still open, but the lady wouldn't come home. His Worship thought tbe complainant .should get a solicitor to represent her. . Mr Wilford agreed, but . remarked that the distressed female . bad been to" no, less than six lawyers, who wp.rr undesirous of appearing for her. His Worship (to complainants : Are you able to get a solicitor ?— No. T am not; I have no money. Do you say there is no solicitor m j Welline-ton who will take vo^r c>se because you have no money *>- -There is ' not. Mrs M^whinnev -Mien scave eHrl price to the effect -that "her husbnnd hnd not s-vn^ortpd her m any woy : she was entirely alojip, and had no money. She bad to leave MewMnnev because she was quite at his mercy and ' HE WAR VERY CRUEL TO HER. His Worship remarked that there was no allegation of _ cruelty m the charge. Mr Wilford said the woman had charged her husband with cruelty. His ., Worship : But not m this case. Complainant • He has forbidden me the house, and won't let me see the children . His Worship : Oh, you should see a solicitor. . Complainant : He has taken my bicycle from me. 'Mr Wilford :. That is not cruelty ; we do not know anything . about her bicycle. We have never seen it. Counsel further informed the Court: that this was the lady who had sworn that her husband. had blacked her ey- and it was subsequently dis-i covered that she had painted the discoloration. She had also, stated on oath that her husband had thrown, her out of a window* when he had not done so. "The fact of the matter is," said counsel, "she is «i beautiful woman. She went into the box with a lot of personal attractions, and made statements that would foe published by the press to the prejudice of Mewhinney. ' Did you not stop him m Bowenstreet, and call him for everything? —No, I did not. Why don't you go home and BEHAVE LIKE 'A SANE WOMAN? —Because it is impossible* Mr Wilford. Mewhinney staged, m evidence, that there had been considerable difference of opinion between himself and wife m the past, and the last proceedings instituted by his wife (whioh had been dismissed) were for separation on the grounds . of neglecting; to maintain and cruelty. He had offered his wife a home. Complainant : You did not offer me a home. The offer was still open. He complained that his wife was m the habit of dropping m . arid having music with her friends m the house. His housekeeper had informed him that the occurrences were spoiling the children, and the woman took exception to the interference with her arrangements. Mewhinney remarked that it was very hard to £et a good housekeeper . The original home purchased for his wife cost £2300. Complainant : Will you provide for me apart from the home ?— No. Then (passionately) you would see me on the streets starving. Mewhinney :. You might nave come round to me without wasting the time of the Court. Complainant : It is the only place where I can set anything from you. His Worship stopped this altercation, ancl the woman said she was very sorry ; . she didn't know how to conduct her case. ' The troubled S.M. again regretted that the woman Was lawyerless. Mr Wilford remarked that the lady had interviewed Messrs Myers, Sker-» rett, Herdman, KirkcaMie, BeU, Wylie, Findlay, and Dalziel, and regret lon this score was not altogether merited. To his Worship, Mewhinney said he had not contributed to his wife's support since the Court proceedings m May last, but the house had always been ready to receive her. "In the. ordinary course of human nature I couldn't be expected to run after her," he remarked. What is she doing for a living ?— I heard . that SHE IS A SERVANT. What is your income ?— £36o a How many children are there ?— Two helpless children. That will do. His Worship said it was perfectly evident from the demeanor of both parties that they couldn't live together. Mewhinney had quite sumcient to support his wife apart from I himself, but for some reason he did 1 not choose, to do so, and the wife ; must show satisfactory reason for j leaving her home. His Worship, still ! considered it would be to her inter- , est to emnlov a solioito'-, -^H though, the' chnrsje would be dismissed, it was open to her to lay a fresh information.