UNHAPPY MARRIAGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14682, 13 May 1908, Page 9

UNHAPPY MARRIAGE.

A TALKATIVE EVANGELIST.

When the case of Edith Marie Billens v. Joseph Daltry Billens Avas called at the Magistrate's Court yesterday a man, with a "don't stop me" air, etrodo into tho Court, bearing a tin trunk, and, after noisily depositing it on the floor, he opened tho lid and with a flourish that aa-ouUI have done credit to an expert salesman of soft goods ho lifted a lady's skirt up and placed it over his arm. This Avas folloAved by a red handkerchief, Avhich was placed over/the skirt. When Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Avho occupied the bench, recovered from his astonishment, ho asked Avho the man Avas, and Avhat he Avas doing. Was he mad? Mr Hunt then arose and stated that he appeared for the man, who Avas the defendant, Billens. • . Billons sfatsd that he Avas sound. He had produced the articles to qualify certain statements to be made by him in answer to the charge brought against him by his " good wife." The CoUrt resumed its official equanimity 'and Billens Avas charged with having deserted his Avife and two children, one aged fifteen months and the other three years. Mr Hunt stated that he had eeen a doctor, Avho had examined the defendant, and it seemed that Billens Avar* suffering from his nerves, and Avas in need of a trip. He, himself, thought that Billens's mind was not verv sound.

Mr Donnelly, for the complainant, called tho wife, who said that she had been married for about five years. Shehad left her husband because she was afraid of hire. He was so peculiar. He got up in the middle of the night to write tetters that ho would afterwards go out and post. Once he packed all her things in her box. He packed even her hair brush. He was an evangelist or a religious preacher of some kind. The defendant was then placed in tho witness-box, and he commenced a voluble explanation of his troubles. Mr Hunt asked him how much a week he earned, but it was only after Billenshad talked about his wife, her family, and their married life for a considerable time, that ho informed the Court that he received £1 a week sick pay from' a lodge. He said that he was a traveller, and as he went through the dominion he preached on religious matters. He received no remuneration for so doing. "Well, if talking is a recommendation for an evangelist," said Mr Bishop, "you would make a good one." The defendant emiled a smile of modesty, and went on to tell tho Court/of the manner in which his marriage had been spoilt by his wife's family. Ho was finally stopped by Mr Bishop, who told him to oeano talking. "You make my head ache," he said. Mr Hunt repeated that he thought -the defendant was of unsound mind. Mr Donnelly said he thought the man was sound enough. "He" is lucid enough at intervals," he concluded. Billens was then ordered to pay 6s a week towards the support of each of the two children, and the chargo regarding tho wife was withdrawn.