WIFE RETURNED

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17837, 9 October 1929, Page 13

WIFE RETURNED

FOR ONE HOUR. TALE OF STORMY LIFE. “My wife ran at me with the sharp edge of a photo, frame in her hand," said Samuel Clarke in the Divorce Court at Sydney, “and tore all the sleeve of my shirt. Then she shot her wedding-ring at me, and said, ‘You had better give this to someone else." Clarke sought a decree for restitution of conjugal rights against Adelaide Edith Ciarke i to whom he was married in December, 1917, at Orange. He said she had left him twice, but after the first flitting, like bread upon the waters, she returned after many days. | ’ "She remained about an hour on I that occasion,” declared Clarke, “and | in that time she cleaned up things ' pretty thoroughly. She took all she : wanted, and cleared off again.’ Petitioner said that when his wife left him on the last occasion she took with her the motor car he had bought. Wrecked tho Furniture. Mr Toose: Did you break into a woman’s house and wreck the furniture? —I broke some things, but I don't know what. Were you ordered by a magistrate to, pay £3O damages?—l don’t remember the amount. How many times did you kick your wife?—l never kept count. Did you ever chase her with a butcher’s knife?—No. Petitioner denied that he had struck his wife in the face with his flst. He had never chased her with a bar of iron. She had sent for a policeman after a squabnle in the home. “But there was nothing treacherous,” added Clarke. Petitioner said it was not a fact that he used to assault his wife when in a temper, and afterwards deny having done anything. Mr Toose: Did you try to put a trace chain around your wife’s neck? —Never. Weren’t you struggling with your ' wife for three hours?—No, only for three-quarters of an hour. Petitioner said he was aware that in 1914 or 1915 his wife had gone through a ceremony of marriage with a man named Clark. His wife had often told him that, she would have to leave him if he did not treat her properly. Mr Toose: Were you left some money under your father's will?—Yes, about £2IOO. Washed One© a Week. Edith Adelaide Clarke, the respondent, said she had to leave her husband on account of his cruelty to her. She said he had seized a butcher’s knife and threatened to kill her, and had tried to cut her throat with a table knife. "I often told him he wanted a wash,” said respondent. “He said he only had a bath at Christmas time. He used to put a singlet on and wear it without a change until it wore out." Mr Toose: How often did he wash himself? —About once a week. He told me that every time he washed himself he caught a cold. (Laughter.) Respondent said her husband put a heavy chain around her neck one day, and she had to struggle with him for a long time to get it off. Mrs Clarke related many other alleged facts of cruelty on the part of her husband. The case was adjourned.