DESTITUTE PERSONS ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9582, 6 August 1894, Page 6

DESTITUTE PERSONS ACT.

Sevkral interesting cases under this Act wore dealt with by Mr. H. W. Norbhcrofb at the Police Courb on Saburday. James William Davis was charged with having failed to comply with an order of the Court to contribute towards the support of his mother, who has been in receipt of charitable aid. Mr. Gribbin appeared for the defendant, and informed the Bench that he had arranged with the complainant that all arrears should be wiped out, and a fresh order made for 2s fid per week. His Worship agreed to this being done. A young man named Thos Cook was charged with having permitted arrears to the amount of £5 5s

to accumulate under an order of the Court by which he was to pay 7s 6d per week towards the support of an illegitimate child. | Mr. Brass:: appeared for the* defendant,* and said the young man was earning only 15s a week. He had already in a similar charge taken the alternative of fourteen days. His Worship: Yet he employs a solicitor to appear for him. Mr. Brassey : The matter is only a trifle. The complainant has shown o stinacy in retaining possession of the child ; the defendant's mother is willing to take it. Mr. Northcrof : If the defendant's

i people are willing to take the child, surely they consent to pay towards its support and leave it with the mother. The game instinct that brings the mother of this child here in Court to-day brings the defendant's mother also. If young men get into trouble they must pay for it. If they come before me they know what to expect. Either pay or go to Mount Eden. His Worship ordered all arrears to be paid before the 7th instant, or in default one month's imprisonment with bard labour. The third case was that in which a young woman named Lily Bedingfield applied for an order again/t her husband, Alex, J. T. Bedingfield, compositor, for the payment of an amount sufficient to keep her two children. Complainant in her evidence stated that her husband had been away for seven years. The defendant in a letter to the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. Bush, said that he was willing to take the children and bring them up. Mr. Northcroft said he always thought it best for the mother to have the children, unless it were shown that she was incapable of bringing them up. Ho made an order for the payment of lumper week. Thelastcase taken was against a lumper named Henry Sloans, who was charged with having failed to provide his wife and family with adequate means of support. Mr. Madden appeared for the defendant. The complainant said she had received only 16s from her husband during the last month. The defendant said hid living was a . precarious one, * and some weeks he earned very little. He bad given bis wife £1 8a during the last fornight, and had kept his home well stocked with food. Mr. Madden to complainant: Do you always speak the . truth. Complainant : Yes, I do. Mr. Madden : You are a native of Queensland ; were you ever committed tor trial— Mr. Northcroft(inter) upting): That question I will notallow. Tothewitness: You need not answer that question. Mr. Madden : Your Worship will see why I ask that question. Mr. Northcroft: You know

that you cannot by law ask that question. I am surprised that a man should employ a solicitor to try and degrade his wife's character. In answer to further questions the witness said she locked herself up the previous night in the front parlour because she was afraid that her husband was going to kill her. She had been frequently threatened by him. As the defendant denied the assertions made by his wife. His Worship adjourned the case until this afternoon, so as to enable the complainant to bring evidence in support of her statements.