ABSTRACT
Another instance of the cruelty of the law which vests the entire control of children in the hands of one parent, thus enabling him to use this power to the terror or torture of the other parents was given in the case of Laing versus Laing, at Dundee, on December 12th. In the present case, as the husband offered no defence, the mother was awarded the custody of her child. The case was an action for separation and aliment at the instance of Christina Petrie Shaw, or Laing, St. Mary's Cottages, Baldovan, near Dundee against her husband, John Moncrieff Laing, boot and shoe maker, King Street, Dundee. The pursuer said she was married to defender in October, 1881. He was at that time superintendent of the shoe mating department in an industrial school, but within a month of their marriage was dismissed from his situation. They went to reside with her mother, an arrangement being made that defender was to contribute at least 15s. weekly towards the household expenses. He did not keep this arrangement, but after the beginning of 1882, contributed nothing. He suggested that her mother's money should be put in the bank along with his own, but she (the complainant) replied that that would not be business, and added that even between the closest of friends business was business. After that he seemed to be disappointed, and a marked change came over his manner towards her. One evening he came home in a fury and abused her, finishing up with the remark that he would haog for her yet, and that he wondered he did not dash her brains out. He continued to use very abusive language towards her. After he became aware that she was pregnant he said he had her in his power now, that " he would grind her as small as the ashes of hell," and that he would treat the child as he treated the boys in the industrial school. A child was born in August, 1882, and subsequent to that time he repeatedly struck her. He offered to go to America if she gave him £100 or £200, but she refused to give him money.
