RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 12

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES

DOMESTIC QUARRELS. WIFE ALLEGES CRUELTY. A SORDID STORY. (Special to Daily Times.) WANGANUI, February 11, Religion is frequently the cause of domestic disturbances, and during the hearing of a case for separation and maintenance this was featured strongly oa the cause of an alleged unhappy married life. Cruelty on the part of her husband was alleged by the complainant, IMrs I inner, on account of her refusing to embrace the faith of “Followers of Jesus.” After hearing the evidence the magistrate suggested that Mrs Tumor should bo given a rest for about three months. Turner: 1 am willing to do whatever you suggest, sir. The Bench: My whole feeling is an overwhelming pity for the wife, and surely some way can he found of giving her a spell. She is entitled to kind and compassionate treatment. The case was then adjourned on the understanding that this should bo done. Iho complainant, Sarah Turner, aged 61 years, said she had a nervous breakdown some years ago, and was in a home for about six months. There was a family of four, all of whom were living at home. Previously they had been living at Oeo, and while there her husband and her daughter had embraced a new faith called the “Followers of Jesus.” Meetings were held at her home in rho morning when as many as 20 people gathered. They used to stay to dinner and afternoon ton, the bulk of the work falling on her. Witness and her other two daughters had also embraced the faith, but later witness saw the error of her ways. When she gave up the faith her husband and her daughters turned against tier, and said they would have nothing to do with her until she came into the flock. In Manaia, her husband threw her out of the door with only 6s, and she was away for three weeks. Witness went to her relations, hut she _ returned home and on her arrival conditions were as bad as ever. After doing her housework she had to go out into tho paddocks ragworting, and when she returned they would again chastise her. On many occasions her husband had stated that he would pay for her at the asylum, but ha was not going to pay for her to go anywhere else. They did not try to get her back to the religion. “They will not talk about anything else but religion in the house,” said witness. Witness said she had £7 in the bank, but her husband, who had her bankbook, refused to give it to her. During the last few months at her_ home the conditions had not been fit to live in. Her daughter Mary had frequently hit her and pushed her. On throe occasions her husband had been present when the illtreatment took place, and he had never defended her. He had refused to take witness to the doctor when she had been injured, and three times he had locked her in tho bedroom and kept her there. Witness threatened to break the windows, and Turner unlocked the door half an hour later. Witness walked from Ararata to Hawora and consulted Dr Buist, a distance of at least eight miles. She was given a ride home, but things wore no better. About three weeks ago her husband brought her in to Hawera and promised to take her to the solicitor, where he would make her an allowance of 30s a week, but instead ho took her to tho police, but tho police did not take any notice of ! Turner’s statements. On tiro journey home Turner had stopped the car just beyond Tawhiti, and had pushed her out of it, so that she had to walk home. Her husband would not allow her to go to her relatives at Palmer road. Witness left home about three weeks ago, her husband saying ho did not want her, and that she was going wrong in tho head. Dr Buist gave evidence of Mrs Turner’s visits to him and ho said she had never at any time, to his knowledge displayed any signs of insanity. She was bearing many bruises on the arms, shoulders, and back, which, she said, were the results of being thrown over a chair by her daughter. From observation of the cbmplainant at the present time witness said she was simple, but not mad, and she gave evidence of being under great mental stress. To Mr H. G. Broclie, complainant said she had not been given money for clothing, and she had worn clothes 15 years old. For some 41100 previous to leaving home Mrs Turner said she bad had her meals in her lied room on account of tho scoffing of her husband and daughters. Constable Tockcr said tho two Turners had come to t.ho police station at midday on January 15, and they then appeared to have had a quarrel, Turner alleging that his wile was not'right in the head. Witness eventually cautioned them and warned them not to create any further disturbance. Tho defendant, David Turner, farmer, of Ararata, strongly denied his wife’s allegations, and stated that she often used bad language to him and to her daughters, and on one occasion she hod thrown a pot of hot coffee at her daughter Diary. He denied over lifting his hand against his wife.