TRAGIC MARRIAGE

NZ Truth, Issue 984, 4 October 1924, Page 5

TRAGIC MARRIAGE

BEEF AND SPAGHETTI FAIL TO

MIX

"La Donna c Mobile."

Mixed marriages are seldom successful. A tragic illustration of this was heard m the Wellington Magistrate's Court • this week when Montague Arnold Brackley, a young Englishman, was sued by his wife, an Italian woman, living m England, for maintenance and support of her ■: child. Lawyer Treadwell, who appeared for defendant, said the case was an extremely sad one. While m England Brackley had got mixed up with a low class Italian woman with little or no morals. After the marriage his father, who was a prosperous business Ntnan, set them up m a furnished house but the woman cleared out, ignored her husband, and went to live with her Italian relatives. Brackley then fell out of work and gave the dole of £ 1 Is per week, which he received from the State, to his wife. Things became so

hopeless, however, that the father decided that it would be the best thing for the son to migrate to New Zealand and start life afresh here. Unfortunately, the woman refused to accompany him and she was now living m England with her Italian relatives. "This is an absolutely hopeless marriage," continued Lawyer Treadwell. "The woman ,is used to living on 'the smell of an oil rag' and she felt like a duck out of water living with a decent young Englishman." Then Brackley stepped into the box. In low, bitter tones he told the history of a hopeless match. From the first they had quarrelled,'and m sheer desperation he had had to "cry down" to her for the sake of. peace. He had done everything he possibly could for her. When she returned to her relatives he called on her and her family, a very dirty low class crowd, turned him out. He had repeatedly asked his wife to accompany him to New Zealand but she had refused. Cross-examined by Sub Inspector Hollis, who appeared for the wife, Brackley said 'he thought he had acted fairly towards his wife. "She never did want me. All that she wanted was my money,"' said defendant. Sub Inspector Hollis: How long had you known her before, marriage? • Two or three years. And after, you had satisfied your desire of her you cleared out?— l did not. The police m England know the facts and they let me go. At this stage Magistrate Orr Walker announced that he would have to consider the woman's claims m greater detail. In the -meantime the chiM would be allowed. 5/- per yveek maiaJ