PRISON BARS AND PROMISES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6948, 23 February 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

PRISON BARS AND PROMISES.

Justice Doffv issued to Mary M'Convill, of 29, Hamilton-street, New York, a warrant for the arrest of her husband, Joho, for abandonment. They peddle fruit, and are believed to be wealthy. Coo.lt officer ELerabaw, armed with the warrant and accompanied by the forsaken wife, was looking for the accused husband at Fulton Ferry. Mrs. M'Convill said to the policeman," It's cold I am, officer ; stop a bit while I'll go forninst the Jerry and warm me poor hands." She went away, leaving Kerskaw on watch ou'side, for the husband was supposed to be contemplating a flight to Brooklyn. Suddenly there was a commotion inside the ferrv-honse, and out came Mrs. M'Convill dragaing a man by the coat collar, and crying, "Thanks be to God, I have ye now. You thought to desorfc me, did yo? Officer, this is the gintlemao." M Convill lost no time in placing tho pjlicemau betu een him«elf and hie wife. A fevhours later, when the case was called in the Essex Market Police-eonrt, Mrs. M'Convill was very demure. She wiped her face with her shawl, and nervously began: "Before God, your honor, this is a wickel man. We have been man.cd ec-vbd year come springtime, but three jeai ago he left me a forsaken widow. Oh, judqe, he left me a forsaJten widow. Oh, judge, he is a wicked Ji'lin " "Has Up given you anything in all that tiinu ?" aaUed ibe Court. " ludade he's not, save a cup of black cofte and two dollars." "Here, judge," broke in the prisoner, who had tried hard tj keep still, "'throw your eye over that; ' and he triumphantly placed a puper 011 the dusk. " Oh, it 19 that he can « rite v. ith .1 piu He is a man uf great learning," said the wife. "I paid all the nnt and ha signed the resales and claims all the credit." "Judge, your honor!" John exclaimed. "I have beou trying to make a home with this moit u i.ked wretch of a w oman for, four years and ten mouths. I couldn't live one month at aby oi.e tnuj iu this places in the piper from her wicked and vicious, treatment " The piper contained a l:sc ot twenty tenement hoi'ses. '" ilow old aio you, Mary?" asked tho Court. " I'm coming up to fifty seven " '• VYciij you everniimed before , " " Indide I W.ll (wiping her t-yes). Praise be to God, I liau a d.icuut man from county Limerick. He *as a dandy, and kind to lin Mary." '■Where -naa the ' wicked John' born?" " On ' sine you in-ght know hu was a county Kerr> man." " What do you want him to do'" " Let him support me, that is his loyal wife." " Will you «ii back tu him .'" "God forbid ! Ho has in lna room a swinging rope, with a loop uu,. to. hang me;'.' Hedoes not look very', stroug. Can't jou handle him?" "Sure I might, but he is stronger than he looks. He haa tho distripEey." " You mean the dyspepsia Uut you uill live longer than he." " In(Udclwill. I'll put him dowu, with God's help." " Gentlemen. , cried the Court, as a roar of laughter disturbed the proceedings, ' u.der must be kept. After the case is over you cau laugh outside. Now, Mary, does John dunk ?" -'Well, your honor,"- replied the wite, "he dou't throw it past hie shoulder." In defence, John eaid that his wife's hrat husband had been a miser, and had given Mr*. M'Couvill money to put in every bank s>he was mad now because the money was used for living exp-nsus. She had plenty, but was jcalouu. "Mary," said the justice, seeking to soften her, "I am going to lock your husband up, where he will shed bitter t-ars. You have sent him to prison for a year." "May God strengthen you," thankfully replied the woman. "Oil, you may change ; and if you come to-morrow, perhaps I'll let him out. Officer, take this wicked John to prison." "Oh, Mary, Mary," cried the husband, " will you'come tomorrow?" The old'woman looked at him a moment, and then, with a hurried "I will, John, I will; and I'll bring ye your breakfast," rushed out of Court with her face iu her shawl.