SEQUEL TO A DENTIST'S DIVORCE

NZ Truth, Issue 777, 25 September 1920, Page 5

SEQUEL TO A DENTIST'S DIVORCE

HUNTER HITS BACK Co-re. Bridger Loses His "Block" A MIDNIGHT SQUABBLE, SMASHING fIJRNITURE, AND A DAUGHTER WHO KEPT A 01ARV

They had it bottled up for two years. It was a bit high when it was put m. The cork was taken out at the Stratford Magistrate's Court on September 10, when Samuel Benten Hunter sued Charles Herbert Bridger for the sum of £28 10s Cd, foß?damage done to furniture on August 12, 1918. Hunter is an old-established dentist and Bridger is a fairly old-estab-lished garage proprietor. Recently Hunter got a divorce from his wife, Bridger being co-respondent. The divorce proceedings did not create any great stir, because no defence was put up and Stratford allegedly knew more -than was mentioned m evidence. Subsequently Bridger sued Hunter for the recovery of money allegedly due, the whole or part of which Hunter said he had paid. Hunter counterclaimed for damage* to furniture— and it was then that the CORK CAME OUT— WOTTQ ! Just what did happen on the "night m question" was a bit difficult to sort out at the court proceedings, so "Truth" readers can pick up the hang how they wish. Isabel Hunter, daughter of plaintiff, said her mother came home about 11.15, and she (Isabel) -got out of her bed and was told that Mr. Ford was m the sitting room. She returned to bed, bvt soon heard a terrific banging at the front door. Somebody rushed into the sitting room and then a terrible smashing commenced. She ran out again, and there was Bridger, looking like a madman, and throwing the furniture about m great style. The light being put out, Bridger followed Mrs. Hunter to .her bedroom, threatened her and, when Iteabel protested, said to her: ."I'll kill you, too, if you open your mouth about this." Bridger ordered Mrs. Hunter to put on her hat and coat and. by the time Isabel had dressed herself for the purpose of going with them, Ford, Bridger and Mrs. Hunter had left the house. Isaj bel put on the sitting-room light and saw a sight she will never forget. Everything m the room was smashed. She then enumerated all the articles that had been damaged, including the soft pedal of the piano, which hud got badly bent. Clearly, THE "SOFT PEDAL" had been completely put out of action that night. Isabel went back to bed, but did not go to sleep until 2.30 a.m ., at which hour had not returned. That morning she rose at 10 o'clock and found all the wreckage cleared away. She asked her mother what was the meaning of the goings-on the night be- • fore and mother said Ford had come home with • her because she was frightened of 'Bridger. Isabel said she would tell her father (who was -absent at the time), but her mother told her not to, as she knew what Bridger would do. She then detailed a few occasions on which she had seen Bridger lay hands on Mrs. Hunter and threaten . her. That night Bridger wanted to fight Ford, but Ford declined. Lawyer Coleman: Might not Ford have broken some of the things before you arrived? — He was crouching m a corner. Asked how she could remember all the articles broken Isabel said SHE KEPT A DIARY at the time, but she burnt the diary before the divorce proceedings. For a long time she didn't tell her father, because she was frightened of Bridger, but before last Christmas she did so, after which Mrs. Hunter went to live at New Plymouth. Clara Maude Hunter, the ex-wife of plaintiff, next grave evidence. She said that at first ht?r relations with Bridger were pleasant, but during the past two years he had been very cruel. Bridger had used violence towards her and threatened her daughter if she told hW father. During the past fortnight Bridger had come to her at New Plymouth and threatened that if she gave evidence against him he would show her up by producing some of her letters. He asked her to sign a statement, but she refused, as the statement was not true. On August 12, 1918, she let Bridger m and Bridger called Ford everything, jumping all about the room. Ford did none of the furniture-smashing — he was very frightened. In the morning she cleared up the wreckage, putting some of it m the dam m the garden. BRIDGER WAS VERY JEALOUS OF FORD. On one occasion Bridger blacked both Ford's eyes and brought him round for her inspection. She would rather not repeat the names that Bridger called Ford on that occasion. Mr. Coleman: Since the divorce has Bridgcr paid for clothes for you and for your general maintenance? — He should pay for' everything for me. I have sacrificed everything and he has sacrificed nothing. I will put m letters from you. — I had to do. something desperate m order to get ' money. Hasn't Bridger been sending you money up to a month ago? — What he has /riven me doesn't amount to anything-. ; Did you not encourage Bridger's at-% tentions? — How could it go on for four yearn otherwise? You are trying to put the whole blame on me. ' Do you know that Ford denifs Ihat Bridger broke any furniture? — Bridger frightened Ford into making- a statemeiit. ■ Hasn't Bvidger wanted you to sever your relations with him? — It was quite t]"° oihov way round. I wanted' to get rid of him. Mr. Colfiman: Didn't you ride m Bridger's car home from Napier and buy meals and drinks for him? — Yes. Hunter, m the witness-box, said that on hirj return from Auckland he noticed that a rocking-chair had been knocked about. He asked about it and was- told that the children had 1,-v.nekort it ovr»\ He thought this v/as fishy, but said no morn. Then he found bits of furniture m the clam, 'and on examining- the sitting-room found . that' eight- or nine pieces- of furniture had been replaced. Ha could ?:et no explanation '' until the divorce proceedings came' along, when Isabel told him all about it. He wasn't bringing 1 the action so much for the sake c-f the money as for the sake of VINDICATING THE SANCTITY of a man's home. One day he looked m at-Bridsjer's garage, whore his car often went for repairs, and told Bridger Ford had Lwo black eyes, whereupon Bridger ventured the information that he had. done the blacklug-. He (Hunter) was present when Ford was examined m Napier; but. Lawyer Coleman stepped m when he endeavored 'to tell something Ford had said after the examination. The S.M.: It was the least he could ,do after taking a ride m the car. Mr. Coleman (to. Hunter): Therefore you were not very angry with him? —

I asked Bridger if he was driving home. He said he was, and asked me to go with him. • I was anxious to get back and I went with him. Hunter m the street about 7.30 o'clock. Ford came along later and the three went to ' Hunter's surgery, where Bridger asked Mrs. Hunter for an acknowledgment for some money. In the meantime somebody had pushed an anonymous letter under the door of his house, anfl when he got home about 9 o'clock he had some words with his wife, so he decided to HAVE THE MATTER OUT. FOR GOOD. He went up to Hunter's. He had no angry words with Ford. All Ford did was to tell him not to speak too loud or the children would hear him. He spoke angrily to Mrs. Hunter because she refused to go down to see his •wife. He, Ford and Mrs. Hunter went down to his (Bridger's) house. Ford waited outside while Bridger and Mrs. Hunter went" round the back. , They 1 looked through a window and paw Mrs. Bridger sitting with a Mr. Smart, who was staying at the house, and as he did not want to make a scene before Smart, they came away again. He had "heard nothing about the alleged damage until he had sued Hunter for money for motor repairs. Shoals of anonymous letters came to his- house, and m the end he had to show them to his wife. When the statement was prepared at New Plymouth Mrs. Hunter admitted it v/as true, but refused to sign, paying she was looking after herself. Bridger asked what about him> seeing he had been keeping her at the rate of £3 to £3 10s per week for seven or eight months. Mrs. Hunter hereupon exclaimed: "Infamous lies," and burst out weeping. When Lawyer Fookes took Charles Herbert m hand things buzzed. Most of the time it was a roaring match. Counsel roared at Charles for his cowardly action m trying to further "BLACKEN THIS LITTLE WOMAN'S NAME." and Charles replied with another ioar. Neither wag short of words or vind, and the "audience." immensely enjoyed the roaring bouts. Mr. Fookes: Were you on good terms With Ford?— Yes. Didn't you black his eyes? — No. There is only one term that can be applied to two married men who enter another man's house at midnight and order his wife to go out with them. — I paid the visit to Mrs. Hunter against my will. Asked as- to the broken furniture. Bridger suggested 'that Hunter had broken it at some subsequent oeriod. Mr. Fookes: Do you suggest that Hunter manufactured evidence to mislead the court? — Yes. You dare not make that statement outside tha witness-box. — I will make it anywhere. Beak Bailey did not take long to make up his mind and gave jurtgn.ent for Hunter for the amount claimed. Lawyer Fookes, Hunter and 3ridger came together as they left the court, and Mr. Fookes returned and asked that Bridger be recalled. He then proceeded to state that Bridger had called Hunter a liar, had called- himself something worse, and had threatened to "smack them up" and "get something on to them." Counsel told the S.M. he did not want Bridger bound over, but he objected to being spoken to m that manner. Bridger promised h e would not molest anybody, .but spoke of an action he was bringing at next sitting.