RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3129, 21 February 1871, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday, Febeuary 20. (Before 3. 0. Crawford, Esq., 3.M.) : JEALOUSY AND ITS EESCXTS. A most peculiar case, or rather series of cases, which helped to reveal a picture of domestic life marked with both hoartlessness and immorality. It will be recollected that some time ago a man named Dunn, a fireman on one of our coastal steamers was summoned from Nelson for the maintenance of his wife j and family. Ho answered the aummons, and ■howed moat conclusively that he had been providing most liberally for his wife for some time, though not living with her, the result of a mutual agreement between husband and wife. At the hearing of that case it transepired that the cause of separation was jealousy. Mrs Dunn, whether on substantial grounds or not, did not appear, had so pestered her lord with her jealous suspicions of a Mrs Wobbly, that, at last it ended in the agreement by which the husband abandoned his home. Before the summoning of Dunn to Wellington, it appeared that the domestic horizon of the Webbly's became clouded ; whether this was caused by the gallantry of Dunn or by letters and telegrams from Dunn's wife to tho head of the Webbly household, did not appear either ; but it was remarkable that a few days before Dunn had to take his involuntary trip to Wellington, Mrs Webbly had quietly " excurted" — also to Wellington, it was supposed. Acting on this surmise, Webbly came over to seek his j errant better half, but he could not penetrate her seclusion, and went back to look after a pair of infant twins bis helpmate had abandoned. From that time dated the serious complications to the domestic peace of tho Dunns. After tho decision of the Court, which gave satisfaction to tho husband Dunn, his self-divorced wife handed him over the three eldest children and the key of the house. It ms said, though, that she first took the pro caution to empty it of furniture. She had only to cross her own fence to find a refuge with her next door neighbors, the Lyons, who sympathised with her. That evening Dunn brought his now house keeper Mrs Webbly and her luggage to hor new home. Tho former mistress of tho establishment, and the real Mrs Dunn, was there to receive the pair, and from the evidence of one side and the admissions on the other, the reception was of the warmest kind. The choicest of immoral appelations from the thieves vocabulary were hurled at WebWy and Dunn, together with an equally lavish and vigorous shower of atones— about the size of half bricks Mrs Webbly described them. This, however led to nothing at the time $' but tUG nappineßß Of the Dunn household under the new arrangement was gall and wormwood to Mrs Dunn, who was a daily observer, and she made frequent aud abusive incursions into the next premises, until one day Dunn having occasion to correct one of his children, Mrs Dunn became furious, and Dunn to use his own words, v gave her a Bomereault over the fence." This led to the present case, which wasmefcby croseactions laid by Dunn and Webbly, Mrs Dunn having presented herself before the latter one day during the absence of Dunn, and threatened to tear her limb from limb, at the same time upsetting a tub of water on the floor. Dunn conducted hie own case, Mr Allan being retained by hifl wife. When Mrs Webbly was placed in the box tho cross questioning of Mr Allan wan niosfc direct and rather embarrassing, one would have supposed, to the witness, but, after the first slight hesitancy, it in no way disturbed her equanimity. Several witnesses were called, but without altering the main features of the case in any way ; bufc it exhibited the disagreeable feature of a son giving evidence against his mother. With the exception of the immorality disclosed by the case, all the parties bear irreproachable characters, and nil were well and respectably dressed. His Worship, in giving judgment, uaxd it was mainly owing to the jealousy of Mr Dunn that her husband had been driven into the arms of another woman, and that it was a great mistake to live so close together, as ib was impossible there could be peace as long as they did so. He fined Dunn 20?, and require him to find two sureties in £10 each, to keep the peace for cix months. Mrs Dunn was also required to find one surety for the same amount, that she would keep the peace towards Mrs Webbly, costs being remitted. Tho other case was dismissed. The Court was crowded during the hearing of tho case, and was very demonstrative throughout the hearing. All of Dunn's children were present, three in the charge of Mrs Wobbly, all clean and neatly dressed, Mrß Dunn having charge of the fourth, both matrons being seated opposite to each other.