POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 77, 30 March 1908, Page 6

POLICE COURT.

.(.Before Mr. C, C. Kettle, S.M.) ; THE SINS OFEES HUSBAND. Quivering with resentment, her Gallic blood flaming under a sense of cruel and unmerited wrong, Marie Gundoil passion - ately denied having been intoxicated 6u Saturday afternoon, when she broke the shop window of her enemy, and smashed the table leg. The window was broken, likewise the leg of the table, and she herself probably did it/ admitted Mrs. Gundoil, but to accuse her of being drunk — Ah, that other woman who had robbed her of husband and her six children of their father. For twenty long and weary years she had suffered his neglect, while • this other woman had— "Ah! I'll break her, 101 break her head," and the slight frame could hardly contain the choking shame of it all. Yes, she went to this woman's house, the woman who had so unspeakably wronged her, and she would go again. If the visitation of Saturday can be taken as any criterion of future outbreaks, then sore trouble is in itore for the temptress, for confusion reigned paramount in that dressmaking establishment after the last visit, the outraged feelings of the forsaken wife leading her to.wild doings amongst the growing garments, patterns, arid sundry materials in store there, while.her angry exclaimings filled the atmosphere for a wide radius. The proprietress of the assaulted shop denied the accusation brought against her, declaring that the assault was the unprovoked attack of an hysterical and intoxicated woman, but then the bulky form of the errant husband was espied lounging against the wall at the back of the Court, and excitedly his testimony was demanded by the indignant wife. "Yes," agreed this estimable spouse, "all she has said is true," and he stood limply in the box, a self-confessed wife deserter.

"True," excitedly supplemented she, her eyes blazing with the knowledge of it. "Yes, he left mc in Australia, and when I came to Auckland, he even sent this woman to meet mc at the boat.' He sends her food and flowers every day now, and neglects his business to go and see her." This scathingly cast indictment was unconcernedly heard by the shameless husband, who seemed nowise disma_yed at the possible fruits of his double perfidy. "As for you," went on the wife glaring at the other woman, "you've broken my home and my heart, and I'll break your head if I get you." This condign threat provoked an injunction from tne Bench to control herself. "You can put mc in gaol," she returned hotly. "I am not English, I am French, and one of us shall die. I'll kill her and commit suicide," and her excitement swelled alarmingly. "I am afraid there will be some trouble over this if she is not restrained," commented the perplexed Magistrate, whose reproofs and warnings seemed entirely lost on Marie Gundoil. "I don't care for fifty Courts," she ejaculated with Gallic fervour. "I know only one Court, and that is God Almighty's—and the grave after—rand," she added dramatically, yet with a pathetic quaver in her voice, "My husband left mc two nights in gaol. I can die; it does not matter.". It -was some little time before the agitated woman could! be calmed, but at last, in response to his Worship's demand for a promise of peace, she was persuaded to the following relentance towards her enemy. "I don't know. I'll try. I won't promise to leave her alone, because. when I am in a paddy I can't." And she retired under obligation to make restitution for the damaged window and table, and looking things unutterable. THE BSEK KEMAI2TCBD UWTASTEO. When Thomas Atkins repaired to the Queen's Hotel, he was under the ban of prohibition. "But I had been six months off it," argued Thomas, "and , 1 felt that awful bad with the pain in my feet that I thought a little drop of something would do mc good." "Do you mean to say that a glass of beer would relieve the pain in toue feet?" questioned the Magistrate severely-

"Yes, -sir," replied the sufferer, "but I didn't get it," he add : ed in sorrowful reflection, and according to the barman the reason was because Thomas was evidencing signs of previous and copious potations. I didn't notice him when he entered, but just as I was pushing the beer across the counter, I didn't like the way he acted, so I pulled it back," .explained the man- who drew the beer. "Didn't you whip it under the counter when you saw the sergeant corao in?" asked Atkins innocently, ,but the barman stoutly denied any such performance. The other man had ordered the beer, paid for ft, and was just extending an eager hand towards the handle oi the pewter when, presto! the pot was whisked beyond his grasp, and the beer remained untasted. Notwithstanding the untasted beer, Thomas Atkins was this morning fined £1 for drinking it, or, rather, attempting to do so, and departed promising to. contribute half-a-rown weekly until the debt was discharged. A RELUCTANT HROHIBITEE. Mrs. Mary Schofield declared she was an American citizen; they had no right to issue a prohibition order against her; and anyway she didn't want one. The obviousness of the Jast portion of Mrs. Mary's remarks was too much for even the composure of the Court. But the order was made, and then the excited prohibited one breathed defiance and tearful threats respecting that order. "I'll put it in the fire. I will be a hanged sight worse afterward," promised the indignant lady, and when the order was politely handed her by the Court orderly Mary at once and uncompromisingly tore it up and broadcast the pieces en the floor, a proceeding that produced for her a sever and peremptory reproof from his Worship, who required an immediate and humble gleaning of the blue fragments. The newly-prohibited lady from America reluctantly stooped, and gathering her rejected order to a very unwilling grasp, retired in tearful resentment at such restraint upon her rights oi citizenship. FAIHIIAK rLITTSIONS. John Brockbank, charged by Chief Detective Marsack with stealing some £3 worth of books from the office of Mr. Alexander J. Black, in Swanson-streetj and trading them away to a secondhand merchant for the consideration of 2/6, equivocated with a volubility to which the Court has become accustomed. He admitted that Mr. Black had been very good to Mm, and could they imagine he was ingrat sufficient to rob his benefactor? The account John's fertile Imagination wove lor the benefit of justice was one in which floated the oft-recurring stranger, who, attracted by the imprint of honesty and benevolence on John's sympathetic visage, entrusted to him the disposal of the parcel of books. Clearly the trustee's faculty for making a successful deal will not figure lajgtjly in the estima-,

tion of that confiding stranger henceforth, for half a crown conveyed the whole bundle to the temporary ownership of. the dealer. "This is a little tale he has often told," remarked Mr. Marsack in unkind reference to Brocks bank's narrative, upon which the subject protested that the truth had all been told, only that the contents! of a bottle of methylated spirits had perchance somewhat blurred the details. In sending the unconvincing bibber of methylated spirits to hard labour for six months, his Worship expressed the opinion that an extended residence at Bell's Island would be an excellent panacea for correcting his illusions. A MISAPPREHENSION. Hedley Martin admitted that the flask of whisky was annexed from the cabin shelf by himself, but there was never a doubt in his mind at the time that it belonged to his mate. Drink it! Not he, and Hedley smiled disdainfully at the idea of committing so grave a breach of etiquette. Certainly most of the whisky was still within the flask produced, but no evidence transpired as to whose fault that was. In any case they convicted, and ordered him to appear when wanted, with a further injunction to remain at the Salvation Army home until he obtained work. REMANDED. Victor C. Eothville, charged with being about to quit the Dominion without making provision for his unborn illegitimate child, was, on the application of his solcitor, Mr. Ivewton, rsmanded until Tuesday week, bail /being Allowed in two sureties each of £ 10, and his own Tecognisance in a similar amount. INEBRIATE. William Barrett demurred feebly but unavailingly when accused of getting drunk, resisting the police, and committing sundry breaches of his prohibition order, and was sent to gaol for three months without the option. Walter Humby was fined 10/ and prohibited for twelve months, and a celebrant who failed to appear lost his bail money. BY-LAW BREACHES. Arthur Herbert, accused of permitting the growth of noxious weeds on his property, was given another month to clear them out. Frederick Gibson was fined o/, without costs, for his wandering horse, and Henry Payne's journey down College Hill on a trolley cost him 1/ and a caution.