By Press Release
The Isle of Wight Observer of October 28th, 1922 contains a long report about the breakdown of the marriage of Reginald and Elsie Wallis of Bembridge who had four children, three boys aged 15, 13 and 11 and a six-year-old daughter. Mr Wallis had epilepsy and could only find gardening work with his father, earning £2 a week. The house they lived in belonged to Mr Wallis’ father. The wife only wanted custody of the girl, sadly it seems nobody wanted the third child. Here is an extract.
Complainant gave evidence and said that she received a letter produced from her husband dated Tuesday, October 3rd. as follows: “I hereby write to inform you that I am leaving and do not agree to your terms and I will not allow you any money. The children wanting food will know where to get it and you are not to remove any furniture from the house without written authority”. Her mother-in-law afterwards wrote stating they would take the two elder children but not the others. She also received the letter produced from her father-in-law giving her notice to leave the cottage by October the 18th when he would enter. She could remove the piano, sewing machine, mangle and personal clothing. He followed this up with a visit when he threatened her with ejectment.
She denied that she received 28s from her husband every week. She did not spend her money on pleasure but she had not done anything for defendant for two months and told him so when he struck her with a stick and beat her about the head.
Mr. J. Robinson, who appeared for the defendant, contended there was no desertion and the utmost offer the husband was able to make was that the husband’s parents would take the two elder children and the wife take the two younger ones. The man was an epileptic and unable to work on account of that and his father now allowed him more than he could afford.Defendant was also called stating his wife had done very little for him recently, and not got his food ready, but had said she would like to see his back and wished he was at the bottom of the sea.
The Bench made an order upon defendant to pay his wife £1 a week maintenance and to have the custody of the youngest child as asked, also to pay £1 1s costs.
