A VICAR’S STRANGE ACTION

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 12 (Supplement)

A VICAR’S STRANGE ACTION

“ I agree that mV hu sfe and * sft«4l'h4.ve power and authority to chastise me whenever he thinks it necessary." This unsigned statement, alleged to have been sent by the Rev. Leopold Oliver Wedlake Brayley, vicar of North-with-South Carlton, Lincoln, to his wife, Mrs Adelaide Brayley, of Edith Villas, West Kensington, was read to the magistrate at West London when she summoned her husband for neglecting to maintain her. For Mrs Brayley counsel explained that the couple parted by mutual consent about a year ago, the vicar suggesting to his wife that country life might be too quiet for her. She took a guest-house at Brighton, but it was not a success. Up till October last the vicar sent her £ls a month, hut after that he refused to maintain her or their son unless they resided with him. During the whole of his married life the husband had exhibited certain abnormal tendencies.

Magistrate: Are you willing to go back to him?—Mrs Brayley: I don’t feel that I can, after that dreadful letter.

Mr Pettifer: That letter is corroboration of his previous conduct. —The Vicar: That’s a bally lie. —Magistrate: (sharply) : Be quiet. “ I presume," his worship went on, “that you are an educated man, and should know how to behave in a court of law. You must contain yourself until it is your turn to speak.” Proceeding with her evidenoe, Mrs Brayley' described how, siie alleged, her husband had chastised her. “Quite apart from the indignity, it was hurtful,” she added.

Magistrate, Mr Ronald Powell: I don't tliink it will be necessary to go into that. 11 is purely a case of neglect to maintain.

Counsel: For how long lias this conduct continued? —Mrs Brayley: Ever since wo were married. The Vicar (cross-examining) : You say this has been going on since 1914, yet you don't discover that you have anything to complain about until the allowance stops. Didn't you take this house at Brighton and tell me you were going to run it as a beauty parlour and massage establishment? —No. I told you It was a guest-house. A Visit to Brighton. You remember when I came down? I found only our son in the house, and he wouldn’t tell me where you were—whether you were in or out even. I waited about the place until late at night, and then you came along with a man. You were just going indoors together when I came up. Do you remember that?—lie was a man who was coming there as a boarder, and he just happened to arrive at that moment.

Counsel: I don’t want to go info those mailers, but she refuses to return to her husband, and I have to show (hat she has reasonable cause to decline to live with him.

Refused to Sign Agreement

Relating the circumstances in which the vicar stopped his wife’s allowance, counsel remarked that he wrote to her saying: “I think you have been very naiurhtv, and you ought to allow me to whip.” With that letter he enclosed an agreement, one clause of it reading as quoted. There were also precise details as to how the punishment was to be carried out.

*• Naturally,” added counsel, “the wife refused to sign that agreement or lo return to her husband, and lie then ceased to make her any allowance." The wife gave evidence that they were married in December, 1911 i. With' her husband’s consent she opened a guest-house at Brighton. The Vicar (interrupting): She took the place Jlrst, and told me afterwards.

While putting further questions to his wife, the vicar became very excited, and eventually the magistrate interposed, observing: “I don’t wonder your wife won’t go near you if you behave like this.”

tier husband, Mrs Brayley continued, made her an allowance of £ls a month, but in August he wrote asking her Lo return and enclosing the agreement.

j Counsel, to Mrs Brayley: I think you have made every endeavour to

Extraordinary Document Read m Court; Magistrate Grants Separation Order.

keep this .unpleasant case out of court? —Yes. And a bishop who knows you both has endeavoured to arrange matters between you —Yes. He has, in fact, agreed to pay your expenses in connection with the case . Yes In the witness-box the husband stated that his stipend was £298 a year, in addition to which he had a private income of under £2 a week. “ I have never been cruel to my wife in any way,” he declared.

Stopped Wife’s Allowance.

With regard to the guest-house at Brighton the vicar explained that he agreed to finance it for six months. When lie went to Brighton, however, he saw no signs of any business being carried on, and as he did not altogether approve of his wife’s conduct he asked her to return home. She refused, and he stopped sending her any money. His wife ignored his letter in which he asked her to come back, but went straight to a solicitor. Since then 'he had been pestered with letters demanding that he should make his wife an allowance. “ Her idea is to get a pension for life from me, so that she may live how and where she pleases," he declared. The magistrate, Interposing, held up the agreement it was alleged defendant had asked his wife to sign. “ Was this a vulgar joke or did you mean it?” he asked.—Vicar: I did not mean it. I have never done anything of the kind.

Counsel: Didn’t you write to your wife, saying: “I suppose you have decided not to undergo corporal punishment at my hands? ” ” I don’t remember writing such a letter,” replied the vicar. The magistrate granted the wife a separation order for 40s a week, with £5 5s costs.

“ May I appeal ” inquired the vicar “ Certainly,” replied Mr Powell.