FARQUHAR AND THE GIRL

NZ Truth, Issue 1062, 1 April 1926, Page 9

FARQUHAR AND THE GIRL

Wife's Pathetic Plea for Care of Her Children

"I HAVE DONE NO WRONG!"

(From "Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) Another chapter of the unhappy married life of Margaret Lucy Farquhar was opened last week.

THE tragedy of the Farquhar home— the wife being supplanted m the affections of her husband by a girl named Annie Weyiaouth Pinhey, and left to fend for .herself and her four children— was told m the Supreme Court m September last. . ' On that occasion, the husband, Albert John Farquhar, petitioned unsuccessfully for a divorce from his wife on the grounds of mutual separation. Last week, m the Wellington Magistrate's Court, Mrs. Farquhar applied for maintenance for herself and for an

order giving her the guardianship. o£ tnree of the children, the fourth having reached the age of 16 years. DRIVEN FROM HOME . A plump, motherly little woman, Mrs. Farquhar told Magistrate Orr-Walker that her husband had driven her out of her home m Millward Street with her four children about five years ago. Later he had agreed to pay £2 10s per week maintenance for the children only. » Ever isince she had, been separated from her husband she had worked for her living,, and was working at present. ? \ Shortly after the separation, as she was unable to look after the children and make her' way m the world, it had been agreed between her husband and herself that the children should go into a Salvation Army home m Wellington. There was no accommodation m Wellington at that time, however, and the children were sent temporarily to Anderson's Bay, Dunedin. Her husband had signed the order i'cr their committal to the home, ani had agreed to pay for their maintenance there for three years. She. had never been able to get the children out since. At first the Salvation Army authorities were very nice to her, she said, but later they became very rude. About six weeks ago she went to Dunedin and got the children, taking them to the home she rented m Crosby Terrace. Her husband had owned the property m Millward Street before she had been turned out of it, and its present value was £1000. "The girl Pinhey is living there now," stated Mrs. Farquhar indignantly. "I don't want my children to go back to the Salvation Army home. Mr. Farquhar has never been to see them. I have never done anything ■wiohg, and.. I want my children with me. "The girl Pinhey stated m the Supreme Court that she was prepared to take my children away from me." To Mr. Perry (for the husband) Mrs. Farquhar denied that she had refused to give the children up to the Salvation Army authorities after obtaining permission to take them to the Dunedin Exhibition. "I made up my mind to get my children. They are mine, and I took them." Counsel: You intended to get them by hook or by crook.

Mrs. Farquhar: The children are my i flesh and blood, and I want, and mll tsnd to have them. Mr. Perry, addressing the Bench; • stated that Farquhaa* had admitted I during the divorce proceedings that : he had lived with the girl Pinhey as man and wife at Petone. He was now living m the same .house with this, woman, but m« sisted that he was not misconducting himself with her; that the girl had entered the home at the suggestion of' his (Farquhar's) j mother. ; l Mr. Perry then intimated to Mr. OrrWalker that he had told Farquhar that his statement was one that peopie ■would find- it hard to believe. The Magistrate; I should thin'< any sane person would find it hard to believe. Albert John Farquhar, a tall man with a sombre expression, stepped into the witness-bax. He stated that he did not drink or smoke. After paying his board at the house occupied by his mother and Miss Pinhey (£2 per week) arid all other expenses, he had £32 per year left out of his salary of £295. FINANCED BY THE GIRL From his statement, it appeared thatM:ss Pinhey's position m the home was mei'ely that of a housekeeper. He paid board and also his mother. Replying to Mr-. Jackson (counsel for Mrs. Favquhar) witness said that l.he girl Pinhey had been m the Mi'lvard Street house since December las 1 ; year. She had bought it from him for £540. Mr. Jackson: How much did Miss Fmhey pay? — T was m her debt to the ■ extent of £10S. She took over the mortgage. Why did you transfer that property to Miss Pinhey? — Because she financed me m my divorce case. Is that true? — She had the money ; from the sale of the Beech Street place. This was the property, said witness, > that he had bought when Mrs. Far- ' CiUhar wanted a place to live m. She had then told him that it was too quiet. Miss Pinhey had loaned him £25 to put into the property. Mr. Jackson: You wanted Mrs. Far- ' cuhar to live m the same place with

Miss Pinhey?— No. ', The property was m Miss Pinhey's '■ name? — No; it was only m a stage of [ being agreed upon. Farquhar denied, that he was j now misconducting himself with Miss Pinhey. After further cross-examination Mr. Orr-Walker intimated that since Farquhar had expressed his willingness to ; pay his wife 12s 6d per week main- ! t^nance, he would make an order for that amount. From his statement it did not seem possible for Farquhar to pay any more. The Magistrate refused to make an order m respect to the custody of the children.