WANTED A FATHER

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1925, Page 5

WANTED A FATHER

MAGISTRATE DECLINES APPEAL

HUBERT’S ELOQUENCE WASTED

(Special to “Star.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 24.

Mr. Wyvern. WilsomS.M.,< definitely 'decided that he would not be a father to two people who were ranged, before him in the Magistrate’s • Court, to-day to tell their tale of mai ital woe. The Magistrate necessarily has to take a part in the affairs of many families, but he evidently considered that he was being asked to do too much.

Ellen O’Loughlin was making, an application for separation guardianship and - maintenance orders,-from Hubert Bonaventure O’Loughlin on grounds of wilful failure to provide maintenance, persistent cruelty and habitual drunkenness. When asked if he had any objection to the orders being made, O’Loughlin made a reply in the negative, but when each ground of complaint was enumerated he would not admit that he had failed to provide maintenance, or that he had been guilty of cruelty. “I have had a few drinks at times,” he added. “I want you to be a father to both of us, sir,” pleaded O’Loughlin, but his pleading went unheard. He repeated it. “Eh!”>iinterrogated the Magistrate, with surprise. Again the plea, given from a cupped hand, came for the Magistrate to be a fond father. He hesitated'for a time and then signified his decline by vigorous, headshake. The blow must have been a severe one for O’Loughlin as he beg'an to W,eep but his tears did not melt Mr. Wilson and the flow stopped, only to be replaced 'by a flow of speech. The Magistrate announced that he would make the orders asked for on the ithird; complaint habitual inebriety.

“Do you want maintenance, Mrs. O’Loughlin?” he asked. “He doesn’t seem, to be able to maintain himself,” was the wife’s rejoinder. “How many children have you, Mrs. O’Loughlin,” asked the Magistrate. The applicant replied that eleven were Jiving, four being in the receiving home. “Am I-all right when I am not drinking,” asked the defendant of his wife. “Yes, but you have been dj-inking for five years,” replied the applicant. “I suppose they can keep me in Paparua. it> they can’t keep me in Christchurch,” rattled off the defendant in a loud voice.” I’ve done my best; I’ve even sold boot laces out at the saleyards. I’ve done my best. The storm centre, is at her home. Yes, the storm centre is there. She takes notice of the people there.” . ■ There was a short spell in the oration while the Magistrate wrote on the Court book. : “I want you to conciliate,” was the next effort. “She can make me mad or all right. She has only to say so, and I will give up the drink. I’ve got a wee bit of New Zealand. I fought for it. Do you think it’s right to put me anywhere?” “I think we ought to put you somewhere until you become sober,” drily remarked the Magistrate.

“Oh, I’m not drunk,” retorted O’Loughlin, “I fought over there and I’ll fight here to live. Any way don’t expect me to be shut up. I do my best. They build monuments in the towns, but what about the monuments of misery going about the streets? I’ll speak my best. They can put me in gaol or hang me. I don’t care.”

The latter part of the peroration was given pianissimo and O’Loughllp seemed to be tiring fast. Here the Magistrate announced that the orders would be made and he fixed maintenance for the wife at 20/- a week. “How \much is that altogether,” queried the defendant. “Let me see 40/-, 50/-, .60/-, 60 and a-halft.. Humph, I am afraid the Government will- have to keep, me, she won’t conciliate.” . “That will do,” said the Magistrate. “Next case.” O’Louglin moved to the door but turned to his wife, exclaiming: “Well, goodbye, God bless you.” OCTOGENARIAN’S SONS. SUED FOR MAINTENANCE (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. \

A man, eighty-six years of age, who applied at the Magistrate’s Court, today, for maintenance orders against several of his sons, said that he had had a family of twenty-six. A few years ago he had married again, and now had five small children dependent on him, whose ages ranged from nine years down to three years. Complainant was Benjamin O’Neill and he proceeded against his sons George, Joseph, Benjamin, Walter, Ernest and Frederick. None of the sons appeared but only Benjamin and Walter had been served with summonses.

Complainant, who was represented by Mr,.,Cuningham, said that he had a military pension of £2/2/- a week but his old age pension had been stopped, the pension people telling him to take action against his sons. He received about 17/6 a week from the Charitable Aid Board, and his wife went out to work.

The Magistrate said that the papers in connection with the case against Benjamin were endorsed to the effect that complainant did not want maintenance from him. Mr. Cuningham said he thought Benjamin had taken drink to his father and got him to endorse the papers. Complainant: I was never drunk in my life; He added that he did not want an order., against Benjamin who •was shot through the lungs at the war, and had a wife and family to maintain. The Magistrate: Do you want an order, against Walter?—Yes and there are. two . other single sons somewhere. • Complainant also informed the Court that he had been sixty years in Canterbury. An order was made against Walter for 10/- a week.