ECHO OF OLD CASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18258, 29 November 1933, Page 7

ECHO OF OLD CASE

DISPUTED IDENTITY AN ORDER CANCELLED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Finality was reached in a maintenance case concerning John William Hope, which has been the subject of court proceedings for some years, when Mr. J. J. Sullivan, representing Hope, applied to Mr. R. W. McKean, ‘S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, for the cancellation of the order.

Maintenance had been required from Hope in respect of a Mrs. Hope who was living in England, although it had been repeatedly contended by Hope that he was not the John William Hope concerned in the liability. In asking for a cancellation ot the order, counsel said he understood that information had come from England that Mrs. Hope had died earlier in the year. The Sheffield police who had been concerned in the matter had satisfied themselves regarding the death of Mrs. Hope, and a report had been made to the New Zealand police. Hope had written to England for a certificate of death since the matter was last before the court, but it had not yet been received.

After perusing the file, the magistrate said he was satisfied regarding the death of Mrs. Hope. The maintenance order and arrears would be cancelled, and the summons for disobedience dismissed. It was evidently the end of a troublesome matter. Hope said be had always maintained that he was not the man concerned. The magistrate replied that he did not agree, but it did not make any difference.