A POOR LONELY WOMAN

Evening Star, Issue 18175, 16 January 1923, Page 5

A POOR LONELY WOMAN

COURT VIGNETTE. [Special io the ‘Star.’] CHRISmiURCH, January 15. To-night’s '‘Star’ gives tho following court vignette: A tall, gaunt woman clothed in widow’s weeds, with a straggling necklet round her thin throat, listened! impassively to a son’s story of her weaknesses. She, had bcorf drunk for weeks, it was stated; and on Saturday, for the first time in a life of toil, she fell into tho hands of tho police. To-day sho had to face a magistrate for her offence. Tho charge was read, and there was a stir in tho court, but no policeman camo give evidence. Tho womap stared in front of her, and then as sho turned! her head to ono side she eaw her son in tho witness box. • “Yes," ho began, “she’s been drinking for months, for years. Sho lives by herself, and I know that if sho is left alone in liquor alio will bo burning her house and killing herself. 1 want her put away for her own good. Father had often spoken to mo about it, but lie's been dead a fortnight now, and I thought Td hotter do it.” ■ Tho woman listened, and a little but convulsive movement of her mouth showed her emotion. Perhaps sho was thinking how sad a thing it waa for a woman to hoar her son talking against her, even though it might bo for her own good. With bead bowed and eyes glistening with tears, ahe listened- to the magistrate’s analysis of tho son’s accusations. He said she was a poor lonely woman Stricken in years, and as for her life, to tho knowledge of the /police it was blameless. Ho then spoko quietly of her recent widowing, -and a few minutes later tho woman was led weeping from the dock, not.listening to tho strictures put upon her by the newly-issued prohibition order.