SELLING A BAD HUSBAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9160, 15 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

SELLING A BAD HUSBAND.

» Mrs. Emma Mcmford, at the Armoury Police Court, says the Chicago Times, sold her husband, William, for 200d015., SOdols. of which was paid in cash, and the other loOdols. promised in monthly payments of 50dols. each. William is not a bad-look-ing fellow. He is tall, well-built, has a moustache and side-whiskers, dresses well, and with his gold eyeglasses presents a stylish appearance. Altogether it would seem that William was quite cheap at the price, but he has his failings, and it was these that led his wife to let him go so cheaply as she did. Mr. and Mrs. Mumford lived in Montreal, Canada. He was a bookkeeper in a large house, and earned sufficient money to support his wife comfortably, but he wouldn't do it; he preferred to spend his earnings on fine clothes, and let her win the bread for the house. Then he became fascinated with the charms of Clara Brown. Miss Brown is fair, fat, and forty, and suffers by contrast with Mrs. Mumford, who is a pretty little black-eyed woman, with a. sweet smile and vivacious manner. However, Miss Brown reciprocated Mumford's admiration, and he accepted her proposition to run away to Chicago. They got here a little over a week ago, and were followed by Mrs. Mumford, who arrived here last Friday. _ A warrant charging the pair with criminal intimacy was sworn out and served by an officer, who brought the couple before Justice R. H. White. They were badly frightened as they .stood waiting for the case to be called. Mumford sent word to his wife that he wanted to speak to her. Mrs. Mumford walked over to where her husband stood beside the woman for whom he had forsaken her. Mumford begged her not to prosecute, but she was firm. He leaned over as though to whisper in her ear, and his arm stole towards her waist. She jumped back and shook him off. "Emma," he said, "don't prosecute me and I'll go back and behave myself." " Oh, no, you won't. lam not going to pay your way back to Montreal and then have to support you." " But you wouldn't send your own husband to the penitentiary ?" "Wouldn't!? You wait and see." Then Mrs. Mumford thought a moment. "I'll hell what I'll do, mum," she said, turning to Miss Brown. " 1 have scarcely a dollar in the world. If you will give meSOOdols., enough to start in a small business in Montreal, you can have him, and I won't stand in your way." Miss Brown pleaded that she didn't have the 'iOOdols., but was told that she had better raise it before the case was called. This roused her to action, and she left the station. Half-an-hour later she returned with a despairing look on her face. "I" could only raise 50d015.," she said, ■v" but I will get the rest if you will give me .time." The wife saw that this was the best ehe could do, and took the money. She then made Miss Brown sit down and write out three notes for oOdols. each, payable in 30, 60, and 90 days. These she put in her pocket, and fifteen minutes later the case was dismissed for want of prosecution.