CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11506, 19 August 1899, Page 7

CITY POLICE COURT.

Fbiday, August 18. (Before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M.)

A Painful Case.—John Richard Patterson Stamper was charged with neglecting to pvov'i.do adequate means of support to his wife, Alice Stamper, who sought for an order of separation.—Mr A.-S. Adams appeared for complainant and Mr Irwin for defendant,—ln this previously-heard case his Worship gave the following decision:—l have given very careful consideration to this case, which is a- very sad one. Very considerable responsibility is thrown upon me, inasmuch as I am called upon by the complainant to practically divorce the parties, a proceeding which can only be justified by the most aggravating circumstances. 'I am not satisfied that such circumsta-nces have been sufficiently established. Tho evidence is almost entirely that of the complainant nione, and is contradicted point blank by the defendant. To establish such a case as would justify me in taking' such an extreme course there should be some corroborative evidence, and beyond that of Dr.'Macdonald, who on two occasions, when consulted.by the complainant, found slight bruises on the arm and shin, there is none. Another point which weighs with me is the fact of there being four children by the marriage, to whom both parties seeni deeply attached. '.. This should form such a bond of union as ought to lead to some more amicable arrangement between the parties than such a separation as I am asked to enforce. I am led to believe that there is great incompatability of temper between the parties, but I am'not prepared to say that there-are not faults on both sides,' which, by mutual forbearance, might be overcome, to the furtherance of an improved state of relations between them. The details of the mode of life in which they are now living, and the state of matters, as described by both the complainant and Dr Macdonald, are, however, entirely indefensible, and if persisted in would certainly induce me to grant such an order as is prayed for. The defendant, 'however, pleads that this is only a temporary arrangement, and I thereforo urge upon him to take immediate steps to remedy such a scandalous state of matters, and to provide decent, though no matter how humble, a home for his wife and children; and, to afford him an opportunity of so doing, and also with a view to the parties becoming reconciled and arriving at some amicable arrangement' such as will provide for. the welfare of tho children as well as themselves, I shall further adjourn the case to this day four weeks —viz., the 15th September next. A Mining Shares Case.—David M'Math was charged with executing a certain transfer contract note of 50 shares in the Nil Dcsperanduni Gold Dredging Company (Limited) without the name of the. purchaser being inserted in tho said transfer in. ink.—Mr .Tonkinson (instructed by Mr Sim)'applied, on behalf of defendant, for an adjournment fora "week, stating that the Crown Prosecutor consented to this 'course.—The case was adjourned accordingly. ' ' '