TWO SIDES TO STORY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 644, 22 April 1929, Page 11

TWO SIDES TO STORY

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HUSBAND NO ORDER MADE “He is a most disagreeable old devil to live with.” , This was Mrs. Lavinia Richards s opinion of her husband, delivered fiom the witness-box in the Onehunga Magistrate’s Court this morning, when applying for a separation and maintenance order. Defendant is an elderly man drawing the old age pension, and receives £ll a month. There were numerous children in the court, which, during the hearing of the case, resembled a kindergarten. Mrs. Richards told the court that her husband hit her on the nose four times, and that she had lived with him for 20 years, but she could not stand it any longer. “He is a most awful person to live with,” she said. “He hit me once when my daughter was in bed with a young baby. She U P Lo protect me, but fainted away on the floor. He calls my son-in-law ‘a Chinaman and ‘Vinegar,’ and he never speaks to his daughter. Complainant had three infants with her in the box, and stated that she received 15s a week for their maintenance. Her daughter gave corroborative evidence and told the court that her mother kept the children because defendant would not give her any money. ' .. TT Mr. M. Rogers (for defendant); He says he is afraid of his life. Witness: He’s a liar. Mr F H. Levien, S.M.: lour lather evidently does support your mother. Witness: Do you call £2 a week enough to give her? Mr. Levien: From the attitude you have taken in the box I would not be surprised if you were not at the bottom of the trouble. Please stand down. The defendant is getting on in years and naturally resents having his home invaded by a group of young children in whom he has no interest. There is no evidence of persistent cruelty, and no order for separation will be made.