A DOMESTIC STORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 17

A DOMESTIC STORM.

CHARGE AGAINST A HUSBAND.

In the Police Court on the 11th, before Mr H. Y. Widdoweon, S.M., Selina Prisoilla Graham, proceeded against her husband, Harry Graham, commercial traveller, charging him with failing to provide , her with adequate means of maintenance. Mr Scum- appeared for complainant and Mr Invin for defendant.

Mr Scurr explained that the parties had been married for five years. They had one child. During the last six months the husband had contributed only 10e towards his wife's and child's support. For some time the complainant had worked as a life insurance canvasser, but aa she was expecting another child within the next two months she had to give up the work. The husband 'had annexed meet of the money she- had earned, and spent it on drink. Lately the complainant and defendant had agreed to live apart, but the latter had not given her any financial support.

Evidence was given by complainant. Under eross-oxamination she stated that she would not go back to her husband. She repudiated the idea that there was anything beyond being friendly in her relations with Thomas M'Mahon.

Harry Graluun, commercial traveller, who eaid he and his wife had got on well together until 10 or 12 months after they were married, when she met M'Mahon. He had never trusted M'Mahon, and, although he introduced him to his wife, did not encourage his visits to the house. She left him while on the West Coast, but loturned after four months. He went/ dredging at Waikaia, and took her with him, but sho was very discontented and anxious to get back to town, and co he eventually gave up dredging, and sent her to the West Coast on a holiday. After that she returned, and they settled in> Dunedin. After a little while she left himl again, returned, and finally loft him altogether, and since then refused to come back to him. During the time they were living together in King street she, on a. few occasions, stayed out all night, and could not satisfactorily explain her absence. 'She quarrelled with the landladies in all the- places where they bad; stayed together. He had left the child with Mrs Moody, because he had no other means of having it looked after, and he paid for its clothes.

To Mr Sourr : His wife was not in good health in Waikaia, but was not ordered a journey by the doctor. He gave her £17 and her fare to Christchurch when she went to the West Coa6t. He had 1 been twice convicted — once for assault and once for a breach of the peace. The house where his wifo lived was*undesira>ble.

Jane Sinclair Jones, King street, said that complainant and defendant had hired rooms from her. Defendant 6eemed to her a man of excellent character, but complainant did not appear to her to satisfactorily perform the duties of a wife. She was frequently out late, and seldom propared her husband's meala when he required them. Finally, Mrs Graham went away from her husband, and he kept thef rooms for some time.

Annie Moody, of Mornington, stated that she had charge of the child, which had! been given into her care by Mr Graham. It wa= brought to her by Mr Graham, and l Mrs Graham had seldom visited it. Last Friday, however. Mrs Graham and a nurse, Ross, called and demanded the child.

His Worship remarked that, under thei circumstances, it seemed the wife's duty to return to her husband, especially as he' wa3 prepared to provide her with a comfortable home. In order to allow both]

sides to think over hie suggestion, he would) adjourn the case for a week.