POLICE COURT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1926, Page 6

POLICE COURT NEWS.

NEW PLYMOUTH CASES. MARRIAGES THAT FAILED. QUESTIONS OF MAINTENANCE. “This is a disgraceful case of a man who simplv will not work, even though work has’ been offered to him,” said counsel, in explaining why an action was brought in the Police Court at New Plymouth yesterday by Ivy Rebecca Clarke against Frederick Charles Clarke for failure to maintain her. Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., was on the bench. It was explained that an order had previously been made against defendant for £2 2s costs, maintenance for his wife at the rate of £1 5s a week, and maintenance for his seven children at the rate of 5s a week. The wife had been forced to find a house for herself, maintain her family, and obtain charitable relief, and now the husband had planted himself on his wife, refusing to leave the house. A sum of £46 2s was owing to date, defendant having paid only £lO since the order was made. Defendant was convicted and sentenced to one month's hard labour. Application was made by Kathleen Alice Laurens for an order of separation from her husband, Bertrand Harold Laurens, custody of their four children, and an order for maintenance. Petitioner stated that she was once a munition worker in England, and ill 1919 she married her husband, who was a sergeant in the army at Walton-on Thames. They came out to New Zea land and lived happily ‘together until last year, when differences began and they agreed to separate. Her husband agreed to pay her £3 10s a week, but lie made only four payments at this rate, and £4 17s besides. After hearing evidence as to the bus band’s present financial position and wages, the magistrate said he would make an order for separation and custody of the children to petitioner, which was not opposed by the husband. The matter of maintenance w».s adjourned to allow the parties to agree if possible on some amount. CASES REMANDED. Samuel Julian, of Opunake, was charged with bigamy and making a false declaration. It was alleged that, having been married in 1919 in Cornwall, England, on December 9, 1925, at Opunake, he went through the form of marriage with another woman, and also that he wilfully made a false declaration for the purpose of procuring a registrar’s certificate by saying that he was a bachelor. On the application of Detective Meikleiohn a remand was granted until next Wednesday. Bail was allowed at self £lOO and one surety of £lOO. A similar remand was granted in thg police case against James Ross, who was charged with breaking and entering the blacksmith’s shop of Laurence M. M. Monteith at Awakino between September 21, 1921, and December 16, 1921, and stealing articles to the value of £9 9s lid. OFFENCES BY MOTORISTS. Bernard who left a car standing in Gover Street on the night of July 17 without the lights burning, was fined 15s (costs 15s). Leaving a ear unattended in Devon Street on July 31 for a longer period than ten minutes cost William Thomas Hookham £1 (costs 7s). For driving a motor-lorry in St. Aubyn Street on August 20 without a reflector, William John Butler was fined £2 (costs 7s). MISCELLANEOUS CASES. Thomas James was proceeded against by the Commissioner of Taxes on a charge that, being the owner of land of the value of £5OO or over, he failed to make a return regarding such to the department. It was explained that defendant had made no return since 1923. The department had been compelled to make a default assessment. A warning notice had been sent to defendant by the department, but it was disregarded A fine of £2 (costs £1 8s) was imposed. For failure to make application for registration under the Defence Act, Leo Coles and Douglass Robinson were eaeh ordered to pay 3s mileage fees.