LEGAL CLOAK?

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 7

LEGAL CLOAK?

Suppression ShieldsWealthy Man (From ''N.Z. ; Truth's" Waikato Rep.) Wearing a worried, ,., ill-at-ease look and appearing to feel his position acutely, a middle-aged, well- ■ dressed man faced Magistrate Platts at the Hamilton Police Court on a charge of attempting to avoid maintaining his wife by intending to leave New Zealand. "THE man, whose name was ordered : to be suppressed by the magistrate pending a further investigation of his case, is well known m many parts ' of \ the Dominion. r - .': He is undoubtedly wealthy, being the possessor of two first-class mort- . gage 3on farm property m the Manawatu for £7800, the owner of two unencumbered farms m the same dis- : trict, of an unencumbered property In . the main street of Dannevlrke and of an /unencumbered farm — at any rate, until recently-!-at Matamata, ■ To be arrested on a charge of ~ attempting to avoid his obligations to his wife, therefore, especially . when— according to his solicitor — • he has with unfailing regularity been paying .her £4/10/- a week ever since a separation agreement was entered into between them, ' would naturally, if true, occasion ,1 him no little surprise. He doubtless felt his position all; the more keenly with the consciousness;: that, he was now dragged before the;, court where many times he- had sat as;; judge, for he is a justice of the peace. r The Hamilton police said they had arrested the man that morning on. a?, warrant from Pahiatua, where his wife still lives. ■•.,.. "i\-:[ HIDDEN IDENTITY / '.-' j Lawyer s Strang described;-; the . pnK ceedings as .extraordinary and said his client was ' quite at a" loss to under-.; stand why they had been commenced. Defendant, he said, felt his position very acutely. . He, was, m fact, a wealthy man, . and the suggestion that he was trying to evade his obligations towards his wife was absurd. Counsel went, on to explain that his client separated from his wife some time ago by mutual consent. A proper legal/agreement was drawn ■up, ..under which he undertook to pay her £4/10/- a week and also £2 per week to an unmarried daughter. He had made these payments with unfailing regularity ever since. He had one other daughter who was married and a married son now living m Christchurch. . ' ' Counsel expressed the opinion that the proceedings were prompted by defendant's married daughter, whom, many years ago, he had turned from home, and who had borne .him a grudge ever since. -The police asked that the case be re- : mandeti to Pahiatua, but Lawyer Strang said his client had a distinct objection to going back there. ' The magistrate remarked that only one side of the case had been heard. It must be presumed that there was some cause for issuing the warrant. ; ' ; He. thought it proper that; the case should be dealt with' at Pahiatua and remanded it accordingly. Counsel asked for the suppression of defendant's name pending a full investigation. To this course his worship consented. ' .