MAINTENANCE CASE HAS UNUSUAL ASPECT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1931, Page 7

MAINTENANCE CASE HAS UNUSUAL ASPECT.

In the Lyttelton Magistrates Court this morning, before Mr H. A. \ oung. S.M., George Frederick Elliott was charged with being £22 in arrears in respcct % of a maintenance order in favour of his wife. Mr Brown, who appeared for defendant, stated that his client’s case was an unusual one. Elliott's wife had for some time been residing in Sydney’, and in her letters to defendant she had, at various times, hinted that she was the widow of John William Smith, who, it was believed, was still alive. Mr Brown added that he had been in communication with a firm of solicitors in Svdney, who had got into contact with Smith. Smith denied being the husband of Mrs Elliott, although he knew of the woman. It was unfortunate that the Sydney solicitors, for some reason unknown, had suddenly stopped correspondence with his firm. Mr Brown asked the Magistrate if he would instruct the Lyttelton police to make further investigations for Elliott, as they were in a position to demand the marriage certificates and other documents which solicitors could not. The Magistrate suggested to Mr Brown that he should get into communication with other Sydney solicitors, and to give him an opportunity the case would be adjourned for a month.

Mr Brown stated that Elliott, who was now in receipt of about £2 7s weekly and his keep, could not very’ well afford more expense as he had already spent much money on the case. The Magistrate adhered to his do-