A COURT EPISODE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11887, 10 May 1899, Page 3

A COURT EPISODE.

“ Your Worship, he is a bad man. He has just come out of gaol, after serving seven days, and lias been coming home drunk ever since!” That was the opening portion of a-wife's address before the Magistrate yesterday, when she summoned her husband for maintenance. Tho-“ bad man,' who had obviously been drilled into a proper state of subjection, discreetly withdrew from bin’ spouse’s sight, but, presently he summoned up courage to interrupt, her flow of eloquence, and query, “ But didn’t you !clear me-out of the-house yourself?” “Yes, I did,” snapped his better half, “ and I’ve done it lots of times before. Your Worship, he comes into the house drunk,- and wants his seventoen-year-oid 1 step-son to stand up to him and fight. I should think I did clear him out. Here he comes into Court wearing the very oldest clothes be can lay his hands on. He just does that so as to excite your pity. He has any amount of good, clothes, and can earn two guineas a week as a hawker.” The parties interested in the suit here engaged in a spirited argument, which v/as cut short by the Magistrate, who remarked that it was no use abusing one another. That would not mend matters one bit. The defendant’s application for an adjournment would bo granted, and the case would be heard that day week.