CRUELTY ALLEGED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17342, 15 July 1924, Page 8

CRUELTY ALLEGED.

WIFE SEEKS SEPARATION. LIFE IN THE BACKBLOCKS. According to a statement by counsel there were serious allegations of cruelty against the defendant husband, in a separation and maintenance claim heard by Mr Wvvern Wilson, S.M. to-dav. The complainant, Helen Marian Field (Mr Cuthbert, proceeded against Robert Harry Field, of Hokianga (Mr JBrassington), for separation, maintenance and guardianship orders, on the grounds of persistent cruelty and wilful failure to maintain. Mr Cuthbert said there were ninechildren of the marriage, and another was expected. Very serious allegations of cruelty had been made against the husband. One difficulty was that the family of nine—only one of whom was over sixteen—several helped on the father’s dairy farm in the backblocks near Hokianga. He had 150 acres freehold and fifty acres lease .u perpetuity. His income was £260, plus a bonus. Complainant said she married defendant in May, 1907. She left home oil December 3.5 last year. Her husband had ordered her to go to her mother. The last month when she was home she was knocked about severely on two occasions. was kicked, and hit on the face ; on the latter occasion her husband finally took a stock whip to her. Her husband’s niece, aged eighteen, was staying in the house lor three months, and the trouble arose when witness said that when they had finished talking about her one of them would have to leave. She heard her husband say that he should have left her in the mental hospital. She had mental trouble after the birth of her youngest child, now aged four, and she was in the Avondale hospital for fifteen months. All the work on the farm was done by the family, and when her husband was asked to buy ma chines lie always said ho had plenty of machines coming on. When plaintiff left homo she got £2O from her husband, but hail received nothing since. These were not the only instances in which she had been ill-treated. There was one occasion, four months after she had been married, and another eight years later. Her husband told his niece that witness should receive a hiding every week. Complainant had no means and had been helped by her mother since she had lived in C h j - is t church To Mr Brassington: She wished to have the custody of all the children. Mr Brassington said that as far as the defence was concerned the only’ question was that of maintenance. Tho cruelty must be admitted in face of the wife’s evidence. The Magistrate: It seems a prettystrong case in that respect. No evidence was called for the defence, except that taken on commission. Mr Brassington said that it was a particularly unfortunate case. There was nothing to account for the cruelty except that it appeared to be the result of hasty action, defendant being a mau of strong passion, “I am glad to be able to say that it is seldom one comes across a case where a man behaves with such brutality to his wife,” said the Magistrate, in giving decision. He said that complainant was a woman who seemed to have been a good wife; she had certainly borne him a large family. The husband had nothing to say'- against her, except that she had been in an asylum as the result of a breakdown. That did not justify cruelty, but rather was a reason for treating her with kindness. Nothing could be said in favour of the husband. He had hammered his wife with liis fists, kicked her and chased her down the paddock with a stockwhip. It was intolerable that a woman should be associated with a man like that. She was entitled to her separation. He saw no reason to suppose that the woman was not capable of looking after the children. She had been in an aslyum some years ago. but she had given her evidence intelligently. The application for separation, maintenance and guardianship of the nine children was granted. Maintenance was fixed at £4 per week.