PLEASE KISS THAT BOOK!

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 69, 22 March 1910, Page 5

PLEASE KISS THAT BOOK!

A POLICE COURT INCIDENT.

"Bennett v. Bennett!"'called the magistrate's clerk'in' Mr C.'C. Kettle's Court this morning, and for a little while there ■was no response. - The Court orderly had half-uttered' the familiar words, "No appearance, your - Worship!" - when -a neatly-dressed but very -frail and ' anae-mic-looking woman pushed . her r-way through the throng of the "Unwashed." which is always so much in evidence at the Police Court. .."Bennett v. Bennett!" the summons was again repeated-r-this time in stentorian tonesbyi the -policeman in the passage-way.. • This ': compelling sentence could be heard echoing and re-echoing away down through the dim vistas of the corridors, for each of "the stalwart, -blue-clad friends- the public" deemed it absolutely -incumbent .upon him that he should pass• the "slogan" along"—tis viribus." And.he did ••■ .-■ A .few more seconds passed.- Then the throng was again reft asunder, and .a ■somewhat excited'young man came hustling through.■ •;.. - '. ;.. ■ , ■ :,-,. ' The cause of this little excitement was not' clear until, the woman stepped- into the . witness-box. ; The, constable . came .along, and, handing a copy of the Bible, to the lady, asked her-to take the oath in the ordinary form. It was not clear to everyone,-present-=iier- . "kissing the ■book," and the defendant evidently.also noticed that . this, solemn .function had not been duly performed, for he at once -—lied out, "Please kiss that ibo'ok -bsfpre you give evidence,'—..The would-be witness at once, complied,; and-on oath proceeded to' tell her story. It was -"somewhat miserable, and -.-sordid one, from ■whichever side" it is looked at. She' had known her in the Old Country years ago; in fact, they had been children together;' and as bW and girl 'often' made ' the welkin ring" withi •their childish shouts of glee. * But they grew up,' as children have ; the habit of doing, and ibyViind-'by, Henry Bennett took an idea that he would visit New Zealand. He came 'here/ and so satisfied was he with the mddern Canaan that'he returned to the "older land; married the applicant,-, and brought ■ her out ■to ;the Dominion. 'But then, according to the I applicant's evidence, the defendant's de|meanour''changed. '_*■ Instead of being, friendly and kindly,- he became ' morose j : and unsociable. •. He took- to -drink, and! I ill-treated her in -every -way he could •think. If she .didn't rise on Sunday mornings, ■ Ke* would- '"• threaten to throw cold water over - her. -Occasionally he struck her, and he had expectorated, in •her face. Indeed, -she. had lived a, dog's life with him ever, since, they came to New Zealand, for in addition her. hushand had accused- her of, running after young policemen!- . ;. '.'"'." \ ,;,...' The husband's, story, was a,somewhat different one. He said that "she was hysterical,, excitable, and .'exceedingly, ill-tem-pered, and her only reason for applying for a separation order was that she wanted to start some'sort of a nursing home. Defendant admitted that he, had often come home drunk on 'Saturday nights.; Defend-—t" ? admitted ;that'fttilie ■Society for the Protection of .Wen—n"__d Children had communicated with him. in regard to Ids treatment.of: his. .wife and child, but he strenuously denied 'that''he had ever been guilty of bad conduct towards them.. He ; had-never struck' his wife, nor even- slapped her face. It was quite'true that 'he'had come' home more or less~under- the influence of beer" on* a Saturday .night, but he was "as : good as the rough,!'' and -a, bit better : _an > a good many of the;would-be smooth" (laughter). His sole objection' tothe separation order asked for was- that it ; would be bad for his wife, bad for his child, and bad for himself. ,. ■ •'■'■' ' ' 3 .>'. ,;'■: ."'•'•.-.. ' .'' '•' At the suggestion of Mr. Kettle the defendant promised on oath/to"'r—rain .from drinking for twelve months, and also ;to pay 15/ per week, towards the support of his wife and child. The information was then 'dismissed, . ' "".-"■ ' . ' :i ■ ,' ■ ,| ;.- '. '* " • ■-■",:''_*■ '' " " "•■"^■s^