WOMAN PLEADS HUSBAND IS CRUEL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17832, 28 April 1926, Page 4

WOMAN PLEADS HUSBAND IS CRUEL

“ I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU DO WITH HIM.” The domestic troubles of Wilhelmina Eva Gottermeyer received an airing at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr 11. A. oung, S.M. The airing had little result except a word of advice from the Magistrate for her to make the best of matters. She made a complaint against her husband, Charles Gottermeyer, of persistent cruelty to herself and her children, and asked for an order for maintenance, separation and guardianship. The case was dismissed. Mrs Gottermeyer appeared in the witness box. How are you getting on at home? asked the Magistrate. Witness: I’m getting picked at. all the time, and my nerves are all to pieces, you know. The Magistrate: Yes, but holidays were Arranged for you, and you did not take advanatge of them. “T didn’t want to go to Brighton or Sumner,” replied witness. “It’s too late now, of course, but I did want to go to the Exhibition.” The Magistrate: What is wrong at home? Witness: Wrong! All sorts of things are wrong. There’s that many things, wrong that I can’t tell you of. I can hardly get about, I’m that weak, you know. The secretary of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children (Miss Cardale) said complainant was quite impossible. Her husband had offered her money for a holiday in Dunedin, but she had not gone, saying she could not leave her husband. Witness: He only offered me £4 to go to the Exhibition, and I found out it would cost £0 3s. I hadn’t enough money to go. In any case, I can t leave my husband in the house on his own. The Magistrate: Why? Don’t you trust him? Witness: There’s lots of reasons. The place would get too filthy, for one thing. The Magistrate: Do you want me to send your husband to gaol while you are away?—l don’t care what you do with him. Have you tried to reform him?—No one can reform him. He’s too hard. The Magistrate: Everyone has done everything they can for you Witness: Who’s everyone ? The Magistrate: And you had better make the best of it at home. Besides, you have only a few more years to live. Witness: When I complain to the police they tell me to come to the Court. Now I’m here I don’t seem any further ahead. What are you going to do? What will you do for me? / The Magistrate: Wait at the back of the Court and listen to other cases. Some may be worse than yours. Witness: Oh, no. I don’t like this place. I’m going. And she went.