DISOBEYANCE OF MAINTENANCE ORDER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11745, 23 September 1902, Page 7

DISOBEYANCE OF MAINTENANCE ORDER.

Charles Arthur Weightman was placed in the dock and charged with having refused to obey an order of the Court, made in Wanganui on May 42th, 1900, whereby he was ordered to ipsay a sum of £1 week towards the maintenance of his wife. Mr Fitzherbert said the suggestion had fallen from bis Honor's lips that as a matter of law, if the accused was absent from the colony when the order "was issued, no offence had been committed. He wished to point out that he had so alleged in the indictment.

His Honor said that this, was a new question, and he would state the case in the Appeal Court) if Mr Fitzherbert so desired it. He would direct the jury m the present case to acquit the accused. Mr Fitzherbert said he was quite content to take his Honor's ruling. The case was now officially before the Court. xiis Honor said he had no doubt about the matter. The indictment did not disclose any crime. Mr Treadwell said that apart from what anueared in the depositions, he could lead evidence to prove that Weightman left the colony in 1899—long before the information was laid. He did not know whether he should ask his Honor to direct the common jury to find accused "not uilty." His Honor said he would quash the indictment.

The accused was then released