Sarah
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 30 May 1923
Page 5 Column 4
WELLINGTON PETTY SESSIONS.
FRIDAY. - Before Mr. F. Hugh FOX (in the chair), Miss A. P. FOX, and Mr. J. R. MILLER.
MILVERTON FARM LABOURER'S CHILD.
Florence E. HELLINGS, single woman, of Wellington, summoned Charles TOOZE, labourer, of Cobhay Farm, Milverton, to show cause, &c.
Defendant pleaded guilty.
Complainant, for whom Mr. W. T. BOOKER appeared, stated that on the 6th January, 1922, she had a male child, which was still alive, and of which defendant was the father.
In reply to Mr. BOOKER, defendant said he was a farm labourer getting 27s a week, and had to keep a wife whom he married a month ago.
Miss DUNCAN, welfare worker at Tonedale, stated that on the 21st February, 1922, she saw defendant, who admitted that he was the father of the child, and offered to pay 6s a week, which he did for a time, but for some time he had paid nothing, and he recently got married.
The Bench made an order for the payment of 6s per week.
FAILING TO PRODUCE LICENSE.
Lionel F. MACHIN, of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, the Depot, Berwick-on-Tweed, was summoned for failing to produce a license to drive a motor-car on the 22nd ult.
Defendant did not appear, but wrote a letter to the Bench stating that he had lost his license, and had now received a duplicate license.
P.C. DANDO stated that on Sunday, April 22nd, he saw defendant driving a motor-car on the Wellington-Exeter-road. He asked him to produce his motor driving license, but he replied “I have not got it.”
The Bench imposed a fine of 7s 6d.
A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Willie Herbert BIRD, miller, of Bradford, was summoned for driving a motor-cycle combination without lights on the 1st May at West Buckland.
Defendant pleaded guilty.
P.C. GARLAND stated that whilst on duty on the Wellington-road in the parish of West Buckland he saw defendant driving a motor-cycle combination without lights. He shone his light on him and shouted to him to stop, but he went on up the road. When he came back he stopped, and said he did not hear witness call, and his light was burning when he passed him. Defendant asked him if he knew what a short circuit was, and witness told him he did not.
Defendant stated that on turning the corner he dimmed the lights, and he went over a bump, which shook the light out for about four or five seconds. It was quite an accident.
Inspector SHORNEY mentioned two previous convictions, and the Bench decided to fine defendant 5s, the Chairman remarking that they did not consider it a very bad case, but defendant ought to have stopped.
THE DISAPPEARING HUSBAND.
BUTLER SUMMONED FOR DESERTION
Arthur ROBERTS, butler, of Glastonbury, did not appear in answer to a summons for unlawfully deserting his wife, Mrs. Eliza Jane ROBERTS, of Rockwell Green.
A letter was read by the Bench from defendant stating that it was extremely inconvenient for him to attend the Court.
Mr. F. S. REED, who appeared for applicant, said defendant was ready to plead any kind of excuse in order to get away from his wife. The parties were married in 1921, when the applicant was a widow, living at Rockwell Green. Defendant came from Wales, and dumped himself into a very comfortable home, with his daughter, aged 17, and a son aged five. He had no money, and started at once to live on his wife, who was working at the factory. He then started a cobbling business with his wife's money, but after some little time that failed, and it became necessary to file a petition for debts in Wales, and he became a bankrupt. After some time he disappeared, and was called up in the Army when the strike was on, and stationed at Weston-super-Mare. Then the wife got a separation allowance, and the daughter in the meantime went out to service, but the wife still had the boy. When the defendant came out of the Army he went back again to Wales, but no money came through. He came back and then disappeared altogether. Later he turned out to be at Malmesbury, but he still sent no money, although he (Mr. REED) wrote to him. Last November he obtained a position at Glastonbury as a butler, and borrowed 30s from his wife to go there, leaving the little boy with her. He previously made arrangements with a neighbour to take the little boy for 5s a week, but he never sent any money, and the boy was still with the wife. In April last applicant's health broke down, and she went on sick pay, and sent the boy back with his father. All he had sent to his wife since November last was £1. He had had correspondence with defendant's solicitor in Glastonbury, from which it appeared that he was getting 15s 5d per week, with board, lodging, and washing found, and he now complained that he had to pay 10s a week for the boy. He refused to contribute £1 a week to his wife, and he now asked for an order for 10s, and if he liked to send back the boy Mrs. ROBERTS was prepared to keep him for an inclusive sum of 12s 6d, that was to say, 2s 6d.
Mrs. ROBERTS gave evidence bearing out this statement.
After consultation the Bench decided to make an order for the payment of 10s per week.
<NOTES: Florence Edith HELLINGS,
daughter of Mary Jane HELLINGS
The child is James Edward HELLINGS,
son of Florence Edith HELLINGS>