A MAINTENANCE CASE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2553, 14 July 1909, Page 3

A MAINTENANCE CASE

• . —— PATERNITY DENIED. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning Mary Elizabeth Rogers, a young woman (Mr Stock) proceeded against Donald MciKellar, sheepfarmer, for whom Mr Blair appeared, for maintenance of her illegitimate child, born on Juno 9th, 1909. In opening the case Mr Stock said that in August last the complainant was acting as housekeeper for the defendant, and it was between that time and the following month of December that the alleged intimacy took place. The informant, during the course of her evidence, said she had known the respondent for' about two years. In June, 190 S, she went to work as his housekeeper ,but it was not until tlio following August that intimacy took place. The respondent promised to marry her, and sine© April last had sent her £2, in response to a letter written by her. She was positive the respondent was the father of the child. Under cross-examination by Mr. Blair the complainant admitted being friendly with a man named Billy Bonis, but denied any .improper intimacy iwitli him. McKellar had accused her of intimacy with Bonis, but the accusation was untrue.

■ Two sisters of the. last witness gave evidence that in December last, while visiting tlieir sister, they saw the respondent come out of the complainant’s bedroom at night, and he was only partially dressed. The defendant, in his evidence, said he was a bachelor between 56 and 57 years of age. The complainant came, to work' for him in June, 1908, and left in April last. She had slept at his house on many occasions, but he denied ever having promised to marry her or any other woman. He always denied the paternity of the child when charged by thefamily, and it was not true that he had ever been improprely intimate with the complainant. -TV The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Stock, and in answer to the Bench, denied the allegations made. Evidence of McKellar’s good character was given by Messrs John Willson Bright and Ashton S. Waclismann, and Mr. Blair intimated that he would like to call evidence to show that men were in the habit of visiting defendant’s house while complainant was there, and he applied for an adjournment. The hearing of the case was then adjourned until Wednesday next, to allow Mr. Blair time to call additional evidence. t - =====