MEDDLING MA- IN – LAW

NZ Truth, Issue 1229, 20 June 1929, Page 8

MEDDLING MA- IN - LAW

1 Straight Speaking From Bench For Mlrs. Woodbury WIFE'S APPLICATION DISMISSED ■ • i

(Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative). The causes of domestic discord take a very wide range, but it is seldom that the hour of rising is responsible for the parting of husband and wife. .

IF the story of^eij'tie Olive .Mildred Adam, a petite young Christchurch wife, is to he relied upon, her husband, Krnest H^enry Albert Adam, is a disciple of the school which believes that the best' deeds of the day can be accomplished by rising with the lark. A few months after her marriage she heard the first discord of domestic harmony 'when, she alleged; lier husband suggested that she should arise soon after -5 a.m. and commence her household tasks for the day. Considering that he was not working, the young woman viewed ,' her husband's mandate as unreasonable, and their subsequent discussions on the matter led to a few torrid moments. On Christmas morning last year the peace on earth and goodwill spirit seemed to invade - ~ v - - everywhere "but the Adam household. j-) t /tt. It certainly did -hicLCl? 10 not permeate the ■*- / v*v>»v ■* v being of Adam, for, . . his wife alleged, he """""" .'■ -. ■ ■ smacked her on the back of the neck. So unhappy was she that, early m .Tanunry. she decided to go back and Hvc with her mother. Since then- she has received nothing from lier husband towards the support of either 'herself or her child, and the expenses m connection with the birth of the baby were paid by her parents. On the face of it,' Mrs. Adam appeared to have good reason to ask Mr. H. P. Lawry. S.M., for maintenance, separation and guardianship orders on the grounds of persistent .cruelty and failure to maintain. But there ;are two side's, to .most stories, and the magistrate made it : clear m .•;dism'i.'ssing';.''th'e'-.;wife , s ap--7 plication that the interference and : bad' advice of her mother, Mrs. Violet Woodbury, had ruined any chance -the young; bride had of ; bringing her husband to, book. ■; Mrs. Adam claimed that most of hei\ furniture occupied their home, the contribution .'6 f , her husband amounting to a few carpets- and some crockery. While living -with her parents, Mrs. Adam received several letters couched

m most affectionate terms from her husband, but she did not reply to them. Adam paid her one visit, but was unable to see her alone, and when he was leaving he was told not to come back as the parents were quite agreeable to keep her and the baby.. When Mrs. Adam was crossexamined by Mr. Roy Twyneham, counsel for the husband, she claimed she was a nervous wreck, when she left Adam and her doctor advised her not to return to him. She really left home, she said, because he ill-treated her and was al-. ways growling at her. ! . On one occasion, she said, he made her get out of bed m the middle of the night to hold his bicycle Avhile he re- ; _ paired it. -, ■ . -> Mr. Twyneham : Ji Jf si '"**'■ you G V er tell I n/lntnPH' anyone that you j.txwlii^i did n ot. intend to ■•' ■• go on with this marriage?. A Mrs. Adam: I intended. to go on with it so long as he was all right to me. She confessed to the magistrate that she did not want to go >back to her husband. . . Evidence was given by the mother, Violet Woodburj 1 - who admitted under examination by the magistrate, that she had persuaded her daughter not' to answer Adam's letters. She declared that when she saw , Adam about marrying the girl, she intended it to be a permanent'marriage, and had practically furnished the home. The girl had been quite willing to go back. ? The Magistrate-:^ Welti; '/why didn't you answer some 'of his letters ? "Did you ever :ask him for maintenance? Mrs. WbodlJury; No.: . , . Without calling.'uport -Adam to put forward his. defence, tlie.; magistrate dismissed the application, aiid m 'no uncertain mariner;'";; informed. %tk. Woodbury, as 6he-s£epped down from the witnessrbox, that she could thank herself for the failure of her daughter's case.