THE WISE WORRY

NZ Truth, Issue 605, 20 January 1917, Page 7

THE WISE WORRY

S©me Sweeping Assertfons , Bertha is Blown Out The Story of an Agreement , (Prom "Truth's" Auckland Rep.) The woes of the Wises seem to be of the circular variety and have ho j ending, • and though they have beon I told over and over again at the court | to end it, the finish has not yet been reached, and on Tuesday there was another matter for Magisterial consideration. \ The wife, Bertha Wlae, reckoned that her hubby. Prank, had tailed off' to the j tune of £34 on a maintenance order. She also thought that he could pay more than the existing order of £1 a week. . There was no sign of Frank about the premises, but Lawyer Ostler was present on his behalf. Bertha paddled her own canoe. •■ Lawyer Ostler related at length how the Wises hud failed to agree, almost since their; marriage \n 1909, how they were separated soon afterwards, how Bertha had secured an order for 10s a week maintenance, which was subsequently increased to JEl.'ln April, 1915. Next, Bertha ► TOOK PROCEEDINGS FOR DrVORCE, ■ but before the petition was heard she signed an agreement In Mr. Towle's olllce, and m the presence of her own solicitor, m which she • agreed m the event of her securing a, divorce, she would accept £G0 m. full .settlement of all maintenance; and altmony, and '£30 costs. Counsel said she hod received tho £60, arid on the existing OTder had been paid to date^and overpaid. Mr. Ostler then read the agreement signed by both parties. Bertha: That is the first I have hoard of it, ■ ' His Worship: Did you not get £50? —Yes, but I was bribed to get the divorce. • \. : Mr. Ostler said that Berthta a got the £50, and subsequently, on '■Jifajj SO, sho wrote asking Wise to let her have £ 15, which sho would pay back In August, thus showing that she waa aware of tho agreement sho had signed. Wise did not give her the money, and she then on five occasions * LAID INFORMATION FOR MAINTENANCE, but this , was the only time »he had appeared. She had got her divorce but had hot taken tho steps to have the decree /nade absolute, And was no doubt holding It over Wise's head to extort money from him. Borthn: You aro a terrible liar, but no doubt you are getting^ well "paid for it. . ••- ■». ; . ■"■ ','■■-• Bertha then went into the: box ./md j said that on ooth uho would aay thore j was a- collusive arrangement between ! her and her husbund for; her to get a 1 i divorce. She waa bribed to djvoroo her huobiuid and did not know - the eoutenta of the agreement or letters i which Mr. Ostler had read. Her bolj Jeltor, Mr. Towle, h:ul got her to aigh tho document without U having been read over or explained, to. her. •IHAVE SIMPLY BEEN HAD," sho added. Mr. Ostler: Do you admit the letters I raid wen? written by you?— Yes, 1 pull my husband*! leg like be pulled mine. Mr. Ostler said that Mr. Matthews, who was m court, would Hlco to go Into tho box to say that ho was present when she signed tho agreement In Mr. Towlo's olllce, and that H was read over to hor. Bertha: He waa not. His Worship remarked that she hat! admitted tho signature, and there was not tho Hllghtest doubt it precluded any claims she had. Both Informations would bo dlnmlssfid. Uertlm: I'll bring tho cbho ngtUn before v. fnir magistrate.