Mexborough and Swinton Times October 4, 1929
Separation Order
Swinton Man Neglects Wife.
Wilfred Milner (45), colliery loco driver, of Swinton, was summoned at Rotherham West Riding Police Court on Monday, at the instance of his wife, Beatrice Milner, of 23, Barker Street, Wath Road, Mexborough, for having neglected to maintain her.
Mr. A. H. Jackson appeared for the complainant, and Mr. A. S .Furniss represented the defendant.
Mr. Jackson said the parties were married at Mexborough Parish Church in July, 1922. The complainant was a widow, and had two sons and one daughter, and the defendant was a widower with two sons. There were no children of the second marriage. It was purely a question of the defendant not allowing his wife enough money for maintenance. The last time the complainant received any money from him was August 16th, when he gave her 35s.
He was working regularly during that period. On September 17th, he went home at dinner time, and said he was going away with a cricket team. His wife raised no objections, but later she heard that he had not gone with the cricket team, but had gone to Rawmarsh. When they were in bed she remarked on this, and he immediately dragged her out of bed. Since then he had adopted the attitude of sulking, speaking only when spoken to, and cutting off the sup¬plies He had not been home for a meal for some time, having all his meals at his mother’s and only going .home at night to sleep. He had told his wife that so long as he went home and slept there every night he was all right Defendant’s average earnings were £2 3s 4d.
Beatrice Milner 23, Barker Street, Wath Road, Mexborough, gave evidence bearing out, Jackson’s statements. She added that her husband had told her that so as he “reported” every night he would be all right.
Mr. Jackson lie must be thinking of army days.
‘Mr. Furniss: No! You also needed a permit to get out then!
In answer to Mr. Furniss, complainant said she did go on an outing to Cleethorpes and to Nottingham, and she had also been to Rotherham.
Did you go to Mexborough theatre?—Yes, certainly: I had four pennyworth
Furniss added that complainant went to the theatre twice in one, week, spent a day at Cleethorpes, a day at Nottingham, and a day at Rotherham, and yet she complained that she was not getting enough money to maintain her. She had also packed her husband’s bag for him four times before he actually left her, and on the day he left her she started to pack his bag for him again. She went off and left him several days of the week, and would not get his meals ready for him, and therefore he withheld his money.
Wilfred Milner said he had two children by his first wife, and, owing to the fact that his second wife would not look after them, he had to leave them with his mother. Since he had been married to complainant he had handed over his wages regularly to her. She had always been complaining to him about money, and was never satisfied. On occasions he had to do his own washing.
“It is a case of tip up the, money,” he said, `We have to. or else. we should get tipped out.”
A separation order 10s a week was made.