BURNT LETTERS FROM HIS WIFE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 14

BURNT LETTERS FROM HIS WIFE.

HUSBAND WAS OFFHAND AND HEARTLESS. (Special to the "Star.") DUNEDIN. April 29. When Joseph Hugh Jones, who is also known in musical circles as Joe Arnold, was married two months ago, he appeared to have rather peculiar notions about his matrimonial responsibilities. Ilis wife, who comes from a good Wellington family, left her spouse shortly after the marriage, but the parting, as far as she was concerned, meant nothing more than that she was to await his return to Wellington, where, with the. assistance of her mother, she was prepared to set up house. Unfortunately Jones’s enthusiasm seemingly cooled off immediately after his wife's departure north. and although she wrote to him he did not bother to read the letters. He did. however, bpen a registered letter addressed to himself, and he replied to ft to the effect that if his wife, came to Dunedin lie would not recognise her. These facts came to light in an extraordinary case that came before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., at the city police court to-day, when the wife proceeded against her husband for separation and maintenance orders. Mr Irwin, appeared for complainant. and Mr O’Shea represented the husband. Counsel for the defendant stated that he had impressed upon Jones the fact that he would have to support his wife. Mr O’Shea’s plea was that Jones had l'een led badly astray by advice tendered him by what he described as "bush lawyers." Mr Irwin said that the parties were married in February last, the complainant being twenty years of age. The defendant was a member of the cabaret orchestra at the Exhibition. The complainant wrote week after week to her husband, but the defendant ignored all except the last letter, and his reply could hardly be described as affectionate. He treated the matter as a joke, and had not made any attempt to support his wife. Even a few minutes ago his wife had expressed her willingness to live with defendant, and complainant’s mother was prepared to help in every way possible. Jones was earning £9 weekly at the Exhibition and previous to that counsel understood he had earned up to £ll at Wellington. There was no reason why he should not maintain his wife. There was plenty of work in New Zealand, but defendant apparently intended leaving for Australia as soon as the Exhibition was over. "The defendant has made no effort to see his wife, and it looks a particularly bad case of desertion," said counsel. "lie apparently wants to leave his wife in New Zealand and leave her parents to support her." A child was expected in the future, he said. The defendant stated that he had earned £9 10s per week since the Exhibition opened. He had spent most of the money, including £4O on clothes. He intended making arrangements to provide for his wife when he returned to Wellington. He was perfectly willing to make a home for his wife there. Witness said that he had £2O left of the £228 earned since the Exhibition opened. "They were affectionate letters that your wife sent you," suggested counsel. Witness: I cannot say. I burnt all of them without reading them. Mr Irwin: All of them? Witness: Yes, all except the last two. "The last one was registered," said Mr Irwin," and I suppose you thought there was money in it. You fell in rather badly.” Witness admitted that he sent a telegram telling his wife that he would not speak to her if she came to Dunedin. "And yet you tell us that you are prepared to provide a home for the lady that you said you would not speak to," commented counsel. The Magistrate said that defendant had behaved in an off-hand, not to say heartless, manner. It was not likely that Jones had dissipated all his wages He- made an order for separation and maintenance, fixing the amount tu be paid at £3 10a per week He stated that when the wdfe's circumstances altered the matter could he brbnght before the Court again He ordered the defendant to pay £d fls solicitor's fee and also to deposit forthwith the sum of £SO as security