MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 12119, 22 December 1913, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr T. Hutchison, K.M.) WIFE DESERTION'. ' Charles Hugh Kearns, a. laborer, was charged with deserting his wife and failing to provide for lidr> maintenance. Accused pleaded not guilty. Kale Kearns, the wife of deletidiuit, gave evidence that he had deserted"her twice, once lor a period of live months, »nd had not contributed towards her support. Four weeks ago he had said to her: "When J come through this gate again it will bo a long time." ■■ He did not say where he was going and went away. She stayed with relatives "jot; a.week, and then went to the hospital' wliere her last child was born. Silo had been left entirely without means. Although her husband waff on strike pay she. had not 'received a penny. t , Defendant said that lie had left for Canterbury in the hope of getting a little shearing. He had got work at Ka.ituna, and had been shearing there for three weeks and earned £3 2s 6d. Ho sent nothing to her, as lie was wait- , ing for the shed to cut out. He had no intention of deserting his wife._ .Ho had jio questions to ask and did not wish to give evidence. The Magistrate: You were working oil the wharf and struck. Your wife got none of the strike pay.. You went away, without a. word. You.got work, and'yot sent her no money. That s desertion! What have you got to say? < Defendant: Nothing to sily, your Worship. ' A brother of defendant said that soma £2O of':their father's estate remained of defendant's share, which were ih the hands of another brother as trustee. This was being used for the benefit of defendant's wife. , . . Kearns was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment in Dunedin Gaol.