Husband's Denials

NZ Truth, Issue 1246, 17 October 1929, Page 8

Husband's Denials

said he was tired of me and he was going to get rid of me. Did he say anything else? — Yes. He said that he had got a lady friend for whose plight ne was responsible. So he proposed to me that I should get out ancl he would bring m this lady and her baby. What did you say? — I said: "'Bring her here, and I'll nurse her.' He then beat me up, striking me several times." Lemming, m giving his version, denied that: during the two trips lo Piaka Farm, he had threatened his wife or smacked her face; or that he had let off a gun to frighten her. . .. He denied also that at "The Towers," Park Road, Auckland, or at Hopetoun Street, Ponsonby, or at a flat m Khyber Pass, Auckland, or at Mrs. Harris's place at Edendale, or at Mrs. Boon-' stress place, Auckland, or at any of the places mentioned m Sydney, he had tried to strangle his wife. He had not smacked her face;nor had he thrown her across the room; locked her both day and night m her room; deliberately struck her on a sore foot; tried to strangle her; threatened to shoot her; used bad language to her and spoke disparagingly of her. He admitted that he had put his hands on his wife, but that was "just to restrain her when she was violent." He had been invited while at Piaka Farm to take part m a tennis tournament with a neighboring viiiage. He agreed on the Saturday night. On the Sunday his tennis outfit, shoes, $hirt, and flannels were missing. Later on his wife frankly. confessed that she did not want him to go to tennis matches, and she had hidden them and trampled the clothes m the mud. Mr. Paterson: Did you take restitution proceedings against your wife m Auckland, New Zealand? Lemming: Yes. In the Auckland Court. The judge said he could not believe that Lemming was sincere m his expressed desire to have his wife sent back home; and the wife, herself, appeared to want a separation. Also Lemming had failed to make put a case of unjustifiable desertion by the wife. He dismissed the petition,' and, as Lemming had sued m forma pauperis he made no order as to costs.